One week before a controversial animal tethering law was to go into effect in Gwinnett County, commissioners made a last-minute change to the law that thrilled animal rights advocates.
The activists were concerned that the language of Gwinnett’s ordinance, which goes into effect July 1, would allow animals to be tethered outdoors for as many as 14 hours at a time. The new rules do not have time limits, but require that the owner is outdoors with a tethered dog at all times, and that the dog is visible to the owner.
Commission Chairman Charlotte Nash said it was the advocates’ “polite persistence” that won her over to their side.
“We are so grateful you brought the issue back up,” said one resident, Jennifer Summers. “I certainly applaud you.”
The ordinance was first passed in March, and its apparent flaws became the focus of several county town hall meetings.
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