"I am in favor of animal rights as well as human rights. That is the way of a whole human being." -Abraham Lincoln

Lincoln could not have said it more simply, but the Fauquier County Board of Supervisors has now put the sentiment into law.

After more than three years of research, campaigning board members, and gathering written support from the public and veterinary professionals, the board finally addressed this inhumane and all-too-common practice of keeping a dog chained or tethered outdoors in any weather, all day, all night long.

"I'm over the moon happy!" exclaimed Hilleary Bogley of the Middleburg Humane Foundation after watching the board unanimously pass a Humane Tethering Code on June 11th.

The code prohibits tethering of 1) puppies six months or younger; 2) female dogs while in estrus; and 3) dogs when the temperature is below 25F or above 95F.

It was strongly felt that the temperatures were too low and too high, and after presenting letters from veterinarians and other professionals, the board agreed to vote to change the temperature restrictions to 32F/90F at next month's public hearing.

Fifteen other jurisdictions in Virginia currently have humane tethering codes. Loudoun County is currently working on one. Fairfax County passed their codes in the fall of last year. These codes will provide measurable and enforceable guidelines that will allow animal control to do their job in reducing animal cruelty, unwanted canine pregnancies, and in giving a safer, more comfortable life for dogs currently chained or tethered.

Most importantly, these codes will give the public a clearer picture as to what is and is not allowed regarding chained or tethered dogs.

The work, however, is not finished. "We had hoped to have a time restriction to not allow dogs to be chained 24/7 but the county denied that proposal."

As Hilleary explained, "Canines are highly social – pack – animals that want to be part of the family. Many chained dogs are deprived of water and food, and do not receive proper veterinary care." Lonely, bored and unsocialized, the animal's frustration aggression from the lack of stimulation and social contact manifests into chronic barking and worse, into fear biting. Studies have shown that tethered or chained dogs are two-and-a-half times more likely to bite, a serious safety issue especially with regard to children.

"It was a great time effort!" Proudly noting the hard work and contributions of Tracy Gahler, Kathy Durand, Charlotte Florh, and Jeanne Ebson to get the code passed, Hilleary also offered a "big thank you to the Fauquier Board of Supervisors."

Canines have a very deep ability to forgive and adapt, and many dogs that have lived too many years chained up have gone on to live happy lives once freed and in loving environments. This code is a significant step in the rights of canines in the county, and the rights of humans to better care for them.