TCU Daily skiff lauds FW City Council decision

February 8, 2008

Animal cruelty should warrant reprimand

Lindsey Bever

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Who let the dogs out? Fort Worth.

The city passed an ordinance outlawing the use of a leash, rope, chain or tether

to detain an unattended dog, according to the Fort Worth Public Health

Department. And local residents who violate the tethering law, which went into

effect Jan. 22, could be fined $2,000.

Kudos, Fort Worth. It's time for the city to intervene and attempt to prevent

animal cruelty - whether intentional or not. And, yes, essentially shackling an

animal outdoors in the heat or cold for hours at a time is cruel.

The city's intention is to control animal abuse and animal attacks, said Amy

Casas, spokeswoman for the Fort Worth Public Health Department.

Dog owners in Fort Worth, many of whom are students, have a responsibility to

care for their animals.

Although some dog owners might argue that chaining up animals protects the

neighbors from free-roaming dogs, it only makes the dogs more angry and

obnoxious. Even the best animals can become mean when taunted on a daily basis.

Not only does neglect affect the animals, it puts an undeserved burden on the

city to pick up the slack.

Last year, 25,500 neglected animals were impounded by Fort Worth animal control

officers, and 70 percent of those animals died in shelters, according to the

Public Health Department.

The city can't be expected to take responsibility for every neglected animal in

Fort Worth. And it can't rely on every dog owner to abide by the law. But

without a city ordinance to regulate animal care, nothing will change.

Fort Worth has the right idea.

Web editor Lindsey Bever for the editorial board.

Please don't print this e-mail unless you really need to.

Beings are more than the sum of our economic appetites, and our country is more

than an economic machine.

-- Bill Moyers

For America's Sake

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