Animal rights advocates push for ban on tethering in North Carolina

On Tuesday, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) were outside the legislative building to push for a statewide ban on keeping dogs on chains outside.

The bill they're lobbying is called the Fiona Mae Wagglebottom's Act after the bill sponsor’s rescue dog, who was once a tethered dog.

The bill would make it illegal statewide to leave dogs tethered outside when it’s below freezing, over 85 degrees, or in storms or hurricanes. It would also define adequate shelter or space for keeping a dog.

Rachel Bellis with PETA said workers for her group have found many chained dogs dead from the heat.

“There are countless dogs in the state right now who are chained 24/7, 365 days a year,” Bellis said. “Many of them don’t have adequate shelter. They can’t reach their food or water if they have any.”

Some cities and counties have already made tethering illegal, but a statewide ban is unlikely to pass, at least this year.

Many of the Republicans in House and Senate leadership are opposed to animal welfare bills. They said any such bill would be a slippery slope to animal rights bills that could harm or ban the state’s hog and poultry industries.

It’s one of hundreds of bills filed this session that will likely never get a hearing.