Dog Tethering Prohibited in Fulton County Beginning September 4

Residents who chain or tether dogs to fixed objects while they are unattended must find an alternative means of restraining their pets beginning September 4, 2009. In March, the Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to ban the practice of chaining or tethering dogs. District 2, At-Large Commissioner Robb Pitts sponsored the resolution.

The introduction of the amendment attracted dozens of animal advocates who supported the ban. According to the Humane Society, “A dog kept chained in one spot for hours, days, months or even years suffers immense psychological damage. An otherwise friendly and docile dog, when kept continuously chained, becomes neurotic unhappy, anxious and often aggressive.”

Additionally, the Humane Society warns that tethering is dangerous to dogs because they become targets for other animals, humans and biting insects. Tethers can become entangled with other objects, which can choke or strangle dogs. Tethers can also cause dogs necks to become raw and covered with sores because of poorly fitted collars along with the animal straining against the collar in constant attempts to escape Collars can also become embedded in a dog’s neck without proper care and fitting.

Under the amended ordinance, dogs cannot be tethered to a fixed object unless held by an attendant or by the owner.

Options for properly restraining dogs include dog runs, mesh fencing and chain link fences. Chain link fences are stronger and more durable; however, residents of cities and unincorporated areas within Fulton are urged to check with their local governments for any required fencing permits and homeowners associations to determine the appropriate types of fencing before purchasing fencing or fence construction supplies.

For additional suggestions or supplies, owners should visit their local hardware or home improvement stores. Additionally, Barking Hound Village , the County’s Animal Services provider, has instructions for constructing appropriate fencing. Call 404-794-0358 or visit www.bhvf.org.

For more information on the dog-tethering ban in Fulton County , contact the Department of Environment and Community Development’s Code Enforcement Division at 404-612-2723.

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Man's Best Friend Can Be an Unwelcome Guest on the Beach

When it comes to nesting shorebirds, man’s best friend can be an unwelcome intruder on Georgia’s beaches. With summer just around the corner, the state Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division encourages travelers to give birds a better chance of survival by leaving their dog at home when visiting the beach. This is especially important from April through July, the breeding season for Georgia’s native beach-nesting birds.

Residents on barrier islands can also help by keeping their cats indoors, since even well-fed cats are inclined to kill birds.

“Nesting shorebirds already face daunting natural dangers such as high spring tides and native predators,” said Brad Winn, coastal program manager for Wildlife Resources’ Nongame Conservation Section. “Birds that nest right on the beach do not tolerate the added pressure from pet dogs and free-ranging cats.

“Dogs harass adult shorebirds, eat eggs and kill chicks. Cats actively hunt in the dunes, killing adult shorebirds and chicks. We can do better as stewards of our wildlife.”

While Wildlife Resources encourages leaving dogs behind when visiting the beach, dogs are actually banned on certain islands protected by Georgia Board Rule 391-4-7. Williamson Island in Chatham County and Pelican Spit in Glynn County are open to the public but closed to dogs. Three sand spit islands are closed to the public and pets year-round: the sandy spit seaward of the north end of St. Catherines Island in Liberty County, Little Egg Island Bar in the mouth of the Altamaha River in Glynn County, and the small marsh island in the mouth of the Satilla River in Camden County.

Beach-nesting birds such as the Wilson’s plover, listed as threatened in Georgia, prefer to nest above the high-tide line on wide, terraced beach flats or in the dunes. They lay eggs on the beach in shallow scrapes in the sand. After hatching, the chicks hide on the beach or in the grass. Disturbance by humans and pets can cause adult birds to abandon the nests and young chicks, exposing them to predators and excessive heat from the sun.

“We are down to only one pair of Wilson’s plovers nesting on Jekyll Island,” Winn said. “The Jekyll Island Authority recognizes the impact of unleashed dogs and feral cats on the island’s native wildlife and has developed an ordinance to ensure the survival of some of it’s rarest birds.”

Jekyll is the only island readily accessible to the public that still has beach-nesting birds for the public to watch and enjoy.

In addition to providing critical nesting habitat, Georgia’s beaches also serve as key wintering and stopover points for seabird and shorebird species such as the red knot, piping plover, whimbrel, black skimmer, American oystercatcher, brown pelican and royal tern. Birds from as far away as the Arctic region come through Georgia as they follow migration routes to and from South America. East Beach near Saint Simons Island becomes a huge sand flat, supporting large numbers of feeding shorebirds during migration and winter months. Owners who allow their dogs to chase shorebirds could be fined for harassing federally protected species like piping plovers.

“Please do not feed feral cats, (and) keep pet cats indoors and leave your dogs at home when you head to the beach,” Winn said. “Your pets and Georgia’s wildlife will be better off as a result.”

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UGA Vet Students to Host 2nd Annual 5K Run for World Rabies Day September 20

The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine’s Student Chapter of the American Veterinary Medical Association is hosting a 5K run on Saturday, Sept. 20, in support of World Rabies Day. The course winds throughout the UGA campus, with the starting and finish lines at Stegeman Coliseum. Proceeds from the race will benefit the Alliance for Rabies Control, an international organization dedicated to the prevention of human rabies and eradication of rabies in dogs worldwide.

“Rabies impacts human as well as animal health and welfare,” said event organizer Zack Yasin. “It is completely preventable through vaccination, yet at least 55,000 people—mostly in underdeveloped countries—die annually. Our hope is to raise more awareness locally to support worldwide education efforts and help eradicate this deadly disease.”

Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. the day of the race, with the shotgun start beginning at 9 a.m. Awards for top male and female overall winners will be given, as well as for masters and the top three male and female runners in each age group. Registration cost is $20 the day of the race. The cost for pre-registration by Sept. 17 is $15. Each participant receives a t-shirt, complementary bananas, bagels and water. Leashed dogs with current rabies tags are welcome to join owners in the race.

For more information and to pre-register for the race, visit www.vet.uga.edu/SCAVMA.

by Tracy Giese
University of Georgia

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