Mansfield Council to vote on anti-tethering ordinance

Submitted by Linda S. (Mansfield)

In mid-February, my office in partnership with Law Director John Spon, Richland County Dog Warden Dave Jordan, Humane Society agent Missy Houghton, and several concerned Mansfield residents (Linda Swisher, Angie Mayo and Linda Somers); launched an initiative to develop an anti-tethering bill for the City of Mansfield.

Bill 15-087 would enact section 505.18 of the codified ordinance. If this becomes law, it would prohibit the tethering of animals between the hours of 10pm through 6am under various circumstances city-wide; unless the animal is properly exempted.

In addition to enacting section 505.18(Fido’s Law); my office is introducing legislation to amend section 505.101 of the codified ordinance of 1997 to increase protections to companion animals.

Both pieces of legislation include specific language that would make measures more enforceable, with the broader goals being:

·       More humane treatment of animals within city limits

·       Reduction of barking complaints to the Mansfield Police Department

The legislation will come before Council for a full-vote on Tuesday, April 21, 2015. A press briefing will follow immediately upon the adjournment of Council. 



Don Bryant, Councilman At-Large
Mansfield City Council

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