Bertie County Commissioners to Finally Consider Chaining Ordinance Following Public Outrage Over Suffering, Dying, and Dead Dogs Found in the County

For Immediate Release:
February 12, 2026

Contact:
Andrew Grant 202-483-7382

It’s been years, but on Monday, the Bertie County Board of Commissioners will discuss an ordinance related to dog chaining and standards of care at its monthly meeting—marking the first time the issue has appeared on the board’s agenda since PETA began sounding the alarm about the rampant cruelty and neglect of dogs in the county nearly a decade ago.

Where:           Commissioners’ Room, County Office Building, 106 Dundee St., Windsor

When:             Monday, February 16, 6 p.m.

Adding the chaining ordinance discussion to the agenda follows recent public outrage over dogs found suffering, dying, and even dead at the end of a chain in Bertie County. Recent victims include Cinnamon and Yale, who both had badly infected wounds caused by a collar and a chain—respectively—deeply embedded in their necks; and Juju, Drako, and Eve, who were left to starve to death and whose decomposing remains were found—still chained—by PETA fieldworkers in November, as detailed in this video testimonial.

PETA Director of Local Affairs Rachel Bellis will speak at the meeting to urge the implementation of clear, enforceable standards of humane animal care and a ban on keeping dogs chained outside unattended. Numerous North Carolina localities have banned keeping dogs tethered outdoors, but, despite the prevalence of extreme cruelty and neglect in Bertie County, its elected officials have yet to take action—which makes Monday’s agenda item especially significant.

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way”—points out that Every Animal Is Someone and offers free Empathy Kits for people who need a lesson in kindness. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow PETA on X, Facebook, or Instagram.