The Mayor and City Council voted unanimously to add a chapter to the city code regarding Animals last month. Most regulations pertaining to animals remain under the jurisdiction of DeKalb County for enforcement but this addition to the city code allows for the city to enforce certain aspects of pet ownership.
The entire City Code can be found on the website under GOVERNMENT > CITY DOCUMENTS > CITY CODES. This then goes to a searchable document of all City Ordinances and Code. The chapter concerning Animals is Chapter Six and includes definitions, general responsibilities of owners, animal restraint while on owner’s property and off property, enforcement, penalties and more.
Chapter Six of the City Code designates DeKalb County for animal control and the operations of animal shelters. The addition that will affect our residents the most will be Section 6-4. - Duty to restrain while off owner’s property. As stated, it is the duty of all animal owners to keep their animal under physical restraint through the use of a leash no longer than six feet when off the owner’s property, with the exception of City owned and designated off leash areas. Owners found in violation of the code can be cited and fined up to $1,000.
This addition to the code is for the safety of all residents and their animals. The City’s parks and trails are open to all and it is imperative that dogs are leashed at all times. You may say that your dog is not reactive and just a jelly roll of love but that doesn’t mean the leashed dog is as well. When your dog is unleashed, they are not within your reach or control and while they might not harm others, others might harm them.
The reality is that we all need to keep others in mind when we take our animals out into public. And part of that is leashing our dogs, for the safety of others and our dogs.
