From: Sophia DiPietro liberatanimls@hotmail.com  
 

All Species Kinship (ASK), Battle Creek, Michigan's nonprofit direct-outreach animal advocacy organization is pleased to report that Ordinance 25-05 to amend Chapter 608, "Animals" Section 608.09, to regulate the tethering of dogs has PASSED unanimously.

All Species Kinship (ASK) initiated the tethering ordinance and was supported by Commissioner Steve Franklin who formally prepared and introduced the passage of this special law. The ordinance was modeled after the one from Dodge City, Kansas (www.unchainyourdog.org) and states:

Dogs may not be chained or tethered for more than an hour at a time, and chains must be at least ten feet in length.

Chapter 2-108. Tethering of dogs restricted.

It shall be unlawful for any person to continuously tether a dog for more than one continuous hour, except that tethering of the same dog may resume after a hiatus of three continuous hours, for up to three hours total time on tether per day.
(a) For the purpose of tethering a dog, a chain, leash, rope or tether shall be at least ten feet in length.
(b) A chain, leash, rope, collaring device, tether, or any assembly or attachments thereto used to tether a dog shall not weight more than one-eighth of the animal’s body weight, or due to weight, inhibit the free movement of the animal within the area tethered.
(c) Dogs shall be tethered in such a manner as to prevent injury, strangulation, or entanglement on fences, trees, or other manmade or natural obstacles.
(d) It is unlawful to attach chains, ropes or other restraints implements directly to a dog without the proper use of a collar, harness, or other device designed for that purpose and made from a material that prevents injury to the animal..

This tethering ordinance is unique to all of MI (as far as we know) and we are very, very pleased to note that there will now be a reduction in animal neglect and reduced human safety issues. As always, All Species Kinship remains committed to assisting all species of animals and will continue to work in the inner cities, educating, providing free straw, doghouses etc and working one-on-one with people to transition their backyard dogs inside where they can receive much needed love and attention.

Bye, Bye 24/7 chaining!!! Welcome, Freedom.

THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU WHO TOOK THE TIME TO WRITE THE BATTLE CREEK CITY COMMISSIONERS AND AN EXTRA SPECIAL THANKS TO THOSE OF YOU WHO TOOK THE TIME TO SPEAK AT THE COMMISSIONER MEETINGS (Kathe Johnson, Bill Johnson, Wanda Nash and Tina Grider).

What You Can Do:

Please take a second to email the Commissioner who took this issue under his wing and made it happen: Steve Franklin at stevefranklin445@aol.com

Please also thank the following Commissioners for their additional support and encouragement: Commissioner Hersha: ryanhersha@yahoo.com and Commissioner Nancy MacFarlane: Nancy_Macfarlane@hotmail.com (note the _ between nancy and macfarlane)


Sophia DiPietro
Executive Director
All Species Kinship (ASK)
P.O. Box 4055
Battle Creek, MI 49016
269-963-1637