Chainfree Bristol

Mission: To eliminate the lifetime, unattended chaining or tethering of dogs in the City of Bristol, Tennessee.

Asheville, NC Sec.3-3. Purpose. “It shall be the purpose of this chapter to prohibit certain acts, omissions and conditions which interfere with the health, general safety and general welfare of the inhabitants of the city; to protect the public from unvaccinated, diseased, stray, roaming, or dangerous animals; to make unlawful acts of animals that interfere with the enjoyment of property or the peace and safety of the community; to protect animals from abuse or conditions harmful to their well-being; and to provide for the peace and dignity of the city. “

I. Why is chaining bad?

   A. Public safety.

      1. Children

      2. The elderly

      3. Mail carriers

       4. Sanitation: circle of dirt

   B. Property rights and values

      1. Permanently restrained dogs often become territorial and aggressive

      2. Permanently restrained dogs may constantly bark

      3. Visually unattractive (currently 4 chained dogs allowed per property)

   C. Inhumane treatment of animals

      1. Pack animals

      2. Endure chronic suffering

II. What is Chainfree Bristol?

   A. Documenting Bristol’s permanently chained dogs since 2007

      1. Photos of chained dogs

      2. Interviewing pet owners (names, age and years on chain)

   B.  Mentoring from Chainfree Asheville

      1. Built over 50 fenced enclosures to free chained or tethered dogs

      2. Worked with City to improve Ordinances

   C. Citizen group offering positive alternative to inhumane practice of life time chaining

   D. Public awareness and education

   E. Accomplishments

       1. Tennessee State Charter

       2. Application for 501C3 tax exempt status

       3. Funded and installed 3 fences, releasing 4 dogs from their permanent restraints

VOLUNTEER TO HELP EDUCATE OUR CITIZENS BY CONTACTING: chainfreebristol.org

III. Ordinance revisions

   A. Goal: total ban on the unattended, lifetime chaining or tethering of dogs.

   B. Examples of how other communities are handling this inhumane practice

        1. Asheville

                a. Thorough Animal Ordinances

                b. Ban on the unattended chaining or tethering of dogs with exceptions.

        2. Raleigh/Durham

                  a. Effective Jan 1, 2010

                  b. “shall be unlawful for any person to engage in tethering a dog except under the following conditions: not to exceed 7 days for herding livestock, hunting, training, law enforcement training, vet treat- ments, or meeting the requirements of a camping or recreational area”

         3. Other communities with either total or partial ban on lifetime restraints: Big Spring, TX; Laurinburg, NC; Scotland County, NC; Lawton, OK; Car- thage, MS; Chattanooga, TN; New Orleans, LA; Los Angeles, CA; Ft. Lauderdale, FL; and MANY others.

   C. Specific recommended language: see attachments from Asheville and Raleigh/ Durham

   D. Objections:

         1. “Little old lady” objection: would not be in violation. (Not lifetime chaining)

        2. Hunters: would not be in violation

        3. Work dogs: would not be in violation

        4. Can’t afford an alternative. This is where Chainfree Bristol comes in...

IV. Implementation of total ban

   A. Delayed enforcement: one year “break-in” period

   B. Public education

        1. BTES

        2. trash can stickers

        3. Channel 16

        4. Water bills

        5. Newsletter

        6. Websites

   C. Enforcement

        1. Complaint based

        2. Animal Control Officers (plus 68 police officers, 51 fire fighters, 65 public works, 36 utility service workers who could all be educated about new ordinance)

   D. Expected initial results

        1. More calls to animal control

        2. More animals taken to pound

        3. More dogs euthanized

   E. Expected long term results

         1. Less calls to animal control

         2. Reduced costs to City

         3. Dogs are treated more humanely

         4. More safe and attractive city: fulfills part of Bristol’s mission statement