Athens-Clarke County, Georgia

Sec. 4-1-2. Keeping domestic animals and livestock under control.

(c) Except as set forth below, no person may tether an animal, and an owner of a domestic animal or livestock must ensure that such animal is not tethered, whether by chain, rope, tie, leash, or other fastener, whether inside a structure or a vehicle or outdoors, to any thing, including, but not limited to, any dog house, tree, fence, other animal, vehicle, runner, railing, house, or furniture.

(1) A domestic animal or livestock may only be tethered if:

(i) such tethering is on a temporary basis while the animal is in the immediate physical presence and line of sight of its owner, and

(ii) the tether is attached to a properly-fitted collar or harness.

(2) The following are not permitted at any time when tethering an animal, regardless of whether the animal is attended by its owner or not:

(i) Use of a choke, prong, pinch, martingale, or similar collar or a slip lead;

(ii) Wrapping the tether directly around the animal’s neck;

(iii) Use of a tether that weighs more than one-tenth of the body weight of the animal, including all collars, harnesses, weights, locks, and other tethering accessories that have their weight borne by the animal;

(iv) Use of a tether that restricts the animal’s range of movement to less than 10 feet, after taking into consideration (A) the length of the tether, (B) the height at which the tether is attached to a thing, (C) any tangling, wrapping, or other shortening of the useful length of the tether, (D) any obstacles, or (E) any other circumstances reducing the animal’s range of movement;

(v) Confinement in an outside compartment of a running vehicle; or

(vi) Confinement in an inside compartment of a running vehicle when the tether is attached to the animal’s collar and any part of the vehicle.