Rockdale County, Georgia

Sec. 18-15. – Tethering.

(a) It shall be unlawful for the owner of any dog or anyone having a dog in his possession and control to restrain or anchor a dog to a stationary object by means of a tether, chain, cable, rope or cord. A dog shall not be considered tethered when the dog is attached to a stationary object, as long as the owner or custodian is physically within reach of the dog.

(b) As a means of restraint which is clearly set upon owner’s legal property lines, a dog may be attached to a running cable line or trolley system providing that:

(1) A running cable line or trolley system remains within the property limits of the owner;

(2) Only one dog may be attached to each running cable line or trolley system;

(3) No dog may be attached to a running cable line or trolley system for more than 12 hours in a 24-hour period;

(4) No dog may be attached to a running cable line or trolley system between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.;

(5) Tethers and cables attaching the dog to the running cable line or trolley system must be made of a substance which cannot be chewed by the dog and shall not weigh more than five percent of the body weight of the dog tethered;

(6) A running cable line or trolley system must have a swivel installed at each end and be attached to a stationary object that cannot be moved by the dog;

(7) The running cable line or trolley system must be at least ten feet in length and mounted at least four feet and no more than seven feet above ground level;

(8) The length of the tether from the running cable line or trolley system to the dog’s collar should allow access to the maximum available exercise area and allow the dog free access to food, water, and shelter;

(9) Be attached to a properly fitted harness or collar not used for the display of a current rabies tag and other identification; and with enough room between the collar and the dog’s throat through which two fingers may fit. Choke collars and pinch collars are prohibited for the purpose of tethering a dog to a running cable line or trolley system; and

(10) Be tethered at sufficient distance from any other objects to prohibit the tangling of the cable, from extending over an object or an edge that could result in injury of strangulation of the dog and be of sufficient distance from any fence so as to prohibit the dog access to the fence.