“It is unlawful to chain, tether or otherwise attach a dog to a stationary object for more than five hours during any 24-hour period” is part of the City of Washington’s animal protection and control ordinance. At the recent Washington City Council meeting, resident Evie Richardson said there is someone in her neighborhood who leaves a dog outside for more than five hours and has reported it to the police multiple times. Richardson said the police have told her it’s a difficult ordinance to enforce because they can’t be out there for five hours straight.

Mayor Sandra Johnson said there have been discussions on the administrative and enforcement sides of the issue. City Administrator Brent Hinson said there is a draft of some potential changes that the city attorney has worked on and that there have been enforcement issues since it was put into place some years ago. Richardson suggested getting input from PAWS and More animal shelter staff when working on the changes. Hinson said there could be a city council workshop regarding the matter and take a fresh look at it with the current council.