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Henry County adopts changes to tethering ordinance, board plans education outreach
Summary
The board approved amendments to the county code restricting continuous tethering of animals, allowing short-term tethering for grooming/vet care and specifying a four-hour maximum for certain situations; staff will run education before enforcement.
The Henry County Board of Commissioners voted to adopt amendments to the county's tethering code after a presentation by Captain Michael Hobgett, director of Animal Care and Control. Hobgett described the changes as limiting allowable tethering to narrow, short-duration purposes such as grooming, veterinary care, training, or organized events, with a maximum duration of four hours in some circumstances and a requirement that enforcement be supported by photo or video evidence prior to officer dispatch.
Commissioner Price, who sponsored the changes, urged adding specific temperature thresholds for the ordinance's 'inclement weather' clause, citing animal-safety guidance that below 45°F warrants caution and below 32°F presents severe risk for short-haired or small dogs. Captain Hobgett cautioned that adding numeric thresholds could make enforcement more difficult (measurement and calibration issues) and suggested the county could use Emergency Management Agency (EMA) hazardous-weather thresholds as a trigger.
Several commissioners expressed concern about potential disproportionate impacts on low-income residents and kennel operators; the board directed that an outreach and education period accompany implementation so residents can come into compliance before enforcement begins. After a motion from Commissioner Price and a second, the chair called the vote and stated, "Motion carries."
