Last week, Carroll County Commission Chairman Marty Smith said that the county will encourage local municipalities to take the lead on establishing ordinances protecting animals from extreme weather conditions; and forbid pet owners from chaining companion animals to stationary objects. The possible ordinances are being discussed in response to a request by Carroll County’s Humane Society in 2018. Humane Society President, Teresa Leslie says her group and concerned citizens need to now lobby city officials.

This seems like common sense legislation to us. This seems like a good step that is not a big burden on pet owners but it does get the animals treated more humanely and we have to speak up for the animals because they cannot speak up for themselves,” Leslie told the Kiss102.7 morning show. “If they are going to have the cities determine this before they move forward, we would like people to tell their city council people that this is what we would like to see.”

Leslie suggested that any potential ordinances would only apply to companion animals and specifically dogs and cats.