In wake of attacks, animal group wants new ordinance

In the wake of a pair of Rotweiler attacks in Corbin that injured two juvenile girls, a national animal rights group is asking county leaders to consider an ordinance that would ban the chaining and tethering of animals.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) urged Whitley County Judge-Executive Mike Patrick last week, via a letter, to adopt an “anti-tethering” ordinance in response to the attacks in which two girls, 11 and 16-years-old, were injured. Both times the dog, a two-year-old Rotweiler named Rocky, was chained. PETA claims dogs confined to small areas by a chain or other restraint for extended periods of time can become “dangerously aggressive” and are the cause of many attacks.
“In 2002, chained dogs killed more American children aged 1-9 than did falls from playground equipment or trees and fireworks accidents, and as many kids as did accidentally fired rifles and shotguns,” said Daphna Nachminovitch, director of PETA’s Domestic Animal and Wildlife Rescue and Information Department.
“In 1994, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that chained dogs are nearly three times more likely to attack than dogs who are not kept tethered.”
Nachminovitch said the organization received a “number of calls” after the incidents, which occurred June 26 and July 3 respectively, and was writing the letter in order to have the county’s fiscal court consider severely restricting or banning tethering. She said there have been at least 33 American children attacked by chained dogs in the past year, and the Corbin attacks were the third since a Wickliffe boy was killed by a chained dog in 2002.
PETA recommends tethering dogs promotes “excessive territoriality” and suggests a secure fence for containment instead of a rope or chain.
Patrick could not be immediately reached for comment Tuesday regarding the letter.