VALDOSTA — A local veterinarian will speak to the Lowndes County Commission Monday to discuss the possibility of an anti-chain ordinance.

Dr. Amanda Hall has been working for more than a year to obtain petitions and develop a presentation to the commission regarding chaining dogs, according to the county.

“It is a fact that over half the calls responded to by Animal Welfare officers are related to dogs that are being kept improperly on a chain,” said Paige Dukes, Lowndes County clerk. “Issues related to chaining include poor general health, no access to water, embedded collars, strangulation, no access to appropriate shelter during times of extreme heat or cold and aggression from day after day of trying to run only to be snapped back by a chain to whatever the dog may be anchored to.”

The current animal control ordinance states that it is unlawful for an animal to not be restrained. There are no mandates on what types of leash are lawful or unlawful.

A number of counties and cities in the state have already set some sort of mandate on chaining dogs, such as the Athens-Clarke County unified government, the City of Bainbridge, Macon and Bibb County, and in the Atlanta area, Dekalb County, Douglas County, Fulton County, Gwinnett County and Cobb County.

“I believe Dr. Hall’s presentation will offer a suggestion that citizens be required to maintain dogs on a tether or a ‘dog run,’ instead of a stationary anchored chain,” Dukes said.

“I believe she has also added a suggestion regarding the length of time a dog can be chained and some restrictions on where dogs can be chained.”

Dukes also said that a proposed ordinance change would follow if the commission chooses to pursue the matter.

“Dr. Hall’s work session presentation Monday morning is just the first step in the process,” Dukes said.