GREENFIELD NEWS

Five things you need to know about Greenfield's proposed pet ordinances

Jane Ford-Stewart

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Leashes that are a maximum of six feet long for walks on streets, sidewalks and in parks are called for in an ordinance being drafted for Greenfield. That was one of several pet ordinances suggested by the Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Control Commission.

Proposed pet rules that include not leaving dogs tied up outside of shops and prohibiting leashes longer than 6 feet are on their way to the Greenfield city attorney for drafting into a city ordinance.

The Greenfield Board of Health on Thursday, Jan. 10, approved model dog ordinances suggested by the Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Control Commission. Another suggested ordinance from MADACC laying out rulles for catching, neutering and re-releasing rules for cats was not forwarded to the city attorney. The city has no ordinance dealing with this issue and there was not support on the board for MADACC's suggested ordinance.

The draft ordinances will go to the common council legislative committee for consideration and then to the Greenfield Common Council.

What you need to know:

1. Tying dogs to light poles or tables outside while the owner goes into shops would have to stop. The rationale MADACC offered for the ban is that a dog that is tied and left unattended on a sidewalk could get into fights with other dogs or nip at adults or children who try to pet them.

2. Leashes no longer than 6 feet on walks, streets and parks would ensure better control of dogs, according to the MADACC recommendations. Retractable leashes that go out to 30 feet do not offer much control, Darren Rausch, Greenfield Health Department director, told the board of health.

3. Dogs cannot be tethered unattended in extreme cold or heat. The MADACC model ordinance defines that as temperatures below 32 or above 85 degrees.

4. When leaving a dog unattended, the owner cannot use a choke collar, a pronged collar or a pinch collar. Also, the tether must be at least five times the length of the dog, as measured from the tip of the dog's nose to the base of the dog's tail or 10 feet, whichever is greater. Tethers cannot be chains not designed for dogs, such as logging chains, tow chains or other lines or devices not intended for restraining dogs.

5. Dogs cannot ride in the open back of pickup trucks unless they are in crates or tethered so they cannot fall or jump out of the truck.

"This is not an issue we've had in Greenfield," Rausch said.