Burke wants to limit dog tie-ups to 2 hours

Chicago Sun Times ^ | March 2, 2006 | FRAN SPIELMAN

[george76]

Chicago dog owners who tether their pets for hours on end without food or water would be reined in -- with a two-hour limit -- under a crackdown proposed Wednesday by the City Council's most powerful alderman.

"If dogs are tethered in this way, it makes them more likely to bite humans and makes them mean," said Finance Committee Chairman Edward M. Burke (14th).

"It's a question of cruelty to the animals. It's a question of responsible care of animals. If people own pets, they ought to treat them responsibly."

The Burke-championed ordinance introduced at Wednesday's City Council meeting would establish a two-hour time limit on tethering, with fines ranging from $100 to $500 for each offense.

In a blitzkrieg of proposals, Burke also took aim at the sale of gift cards, used cars and meat ...

[D.P.Roberts]

Yep, whenever I want to know anything about dogs I just ask a politician.

[Abathar]

""If dogs are tethered in this way, it makes them more likely to bite humans and makes them mean," said Finance Committee Chairman Edward M. Burke (14th). "

So he wants them to run lose so they can bite people outside the yard or what?

[tom paine 2]

Ed burke must not have anything important to do like clean up the rank corruption in the Daly democrat party

[Abathar]

Get a stopwatch if you own a dog in Chicago now...

[D.P.Roberts]

"In further news today, Eddie Burke, the world's greatest expert on everything, enlightened us on gift cards, used cars, meat and how dogs think."

[GeorgiaDawg32]

so now people can sue the city of chicago in addition to the owner of that pit bull that had to be released??

[ahayes]

I'd prefer to have them fenced. Chaining a dog up does make it more aggressive to passer-by if it has those tendencies to begin with.

[Terpfen]

"If people own pets, they ought to treat them responsibly."

Can't argue there, stupid as this idea is.

[Abathar]

In other words if you come home and there are chalk marks on the side of your doghouse you know the meter-maids are on to you.

[colorcountry]

I thought you were talking about dog knots. I've never seen one last TWO HOURS!

[CharlesWayneCT]

So will they do this like they do cars, by painting lines on their paws and seeing if they moved in the last two hours?

[CharlesWayneCT]

You beat me to it.....

[Abathar]

If its a big dog a chain is better than a fence, my chow can jump a normal fence without breaking her stride if she wants, and a lot of people don't allow fences because of deed restrictions too.

[Abathar]

GMTA

[Ditto]

Hell, let the dogs run free. Not much chance of getting bit by them. It's these damn run-a-muck politicians who should be chained up since they always end up putting the bite on everyone.

[george76]

Can he find something important to worry about...like the underfunded City of Chicago retirement plans ?

[ahayes]

Too bad.

A chain contributes to aggression by frustrating the dog. It can see someone walking by on what it considers its territory, but it can't run them off because something holds it back. If there is a physical barrier it doesn't seem to aggravate them as much.

[george76]

Are they going to install dog parking meters ?

[george76]

Burke will hire thousands of his new, best friends to be dog watchers.