RANDOLPH COUNTY -- Keeping dogs chained and confined to a small area outside will be coming to an end in Randolph County. Leaders want pet owners to be more responsible with their four-legged friends.
There are new changes to the Randolph County animal control laws. Now, it is illegal to tether your dog outside for an extended amount of time.
"Basically, you couldn't let your dog run wild in the neighborhood, and they had to be properly identified. You had to keep them on your property, etcetera. This addresses what you do with the animal when it is on your property," said Darrell Frye, Randolph County commissioner chairman.
Randolph County health officials say tying up your dog outside can lead to unsocial behavior which then becomes a public safety concern.
"The public health reason has to do with safety, the public safety. Dogs that are chained for the majority of their confinement tend to be more aggressive. They're more anti-social, they're bored, they're confused because they can see where they want to go but they can't get there," said MiMi Cooper, Randolph County health director.
After a recommendation from the county health department, commissioners approved the dog tethering amendment. They've seen a problem across the county with too many dogs chained outside. The amendment went into effect immediately, but fines and penalties have not. Education is the first approach to enforcing this new law.
"We're going to design a marketing campaign with our humane society and with our rescues, the ones that want to be involved. So, we'll do some social media pieces," said Cooper.
County officials believe this gives pet owners a chance to understand and will hopefully comply with the law.
"To give people the opportunity to listen and learn during the process and not just jump out there immediately and start writing fines," said Frye.
The penalties and fines will begin to be handed out in January 2017.