CAIRO — A new ordinance restricting most dog tethering practices in Grady County is now in effect following a Board of Commissioners vote.

Effective immediately, fastening or restraining dogs to stationary objects for longer than one hour is now classified as a form of animal abuse.

“The specific issue we’re dealing with here is choke collars,” said County Administrator Buddy Johnson. “That’s the biggest problem we’ve had complaints with and we’ve seen where they’ll put them on a chain and tie them to whatever.”

Repeat violators of the ordinance are likely to be met by fines.

Residents who attach dogs to running lines, pulleys or trolley systems to tethers between 10 and 20 feet in length are not in violation of the ordinance.

Other exemptions are made for businesses specializing in dog training, such as for police K9s, so long as the animal is actively engaged in a training exercise.

Retired state legislator Gene Maddox, himself a former practicing veterinarian, provided the commissioners assistance in crafting the ordinance.

Maddox suggested to the commissioners earlier this month that there be a specification for how long accepted tethers should be, preferably 10 to 20 feet.

The original vote to ratify the ordinance was tabled for Maddox’s suggestions to be added, and the final language was approved on a motion made by Commissioner Keith Moye and seconded by Phillip Drew.

Research from the Centers for Disease Control states that chained dogs are 2.8 times more likely to bite than unchained dogs.

When tethers catch on obstacles, they can present a potential hazard as well as prevent dogs from reaching food, water and shelter.

Traits associated with dogs subjected to continuous tethering include anxiousness, aggressiveness, poor socialization and excessive barking.