Now is a good time to review the DeKalb County Animal Control summary shown below:

Sec. 5-3.  Keeping animal under restraint while on owner's property.

1. It shall be the duty of every owner of an animal to ensure that the animal is kept under restraint, and that precautions are taken to prevent the animal from leaving, while unattended, the real property limits of its owner.
   
   
2. It shall be the duty of every owner of an animal to ensure that the animal is securely and humanely enclosed within a proper enclosure as a means of primary restraint. Such enclosure must be securely locked at any time the animal is left unattended. When outside the proper enclosure but on the owner's property, it shall be the duty of every owner of an animal to ensure that the animal is humanely secured by a leash or lead and under the control of a responsible and competent person; or off leash but under the direct control of a responsible and competent person who is physically present with the animal, provided that such animal is obedient to that person's command.
   
   
3. Any animal that is housed outside of its owner's house shall be housed in a proper enclosure that complies with the provisions of this Code. The owner shall also ensure that the proper enclosure contains at least one hundred (100) square feet of open space as that term is defined in Chapter 27 of this Code.
   
   
4. Tethering of an animal is prohibited.
   
   
5. As a secondary means of restraint to a proper enclosure, an animal may be attached to a running cable line or trolley system providing that:
   
   
   1. A running cable line or trolley system is set inside a proper enclosure;
      
   2. Only one (1) animal may be attached to each running cable line or trolley system;
      
   3. No animal may be attached to a running cable line or trolley system for more than twelve (12) hours in a twenty-four-hour period;
      
   4. No animal may be attached to a running cable line or trolley system between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.;
      
   5. Tethers and cables attaching the animal to the running cable line or trolley system must be made of a substance which cannot be chewed by the animal and shall not weigh more than five (5) percent of the body weight of the animal tethered;
      
   6. A running cable line or trolley system must have a swivel installed at each end and be attached to a stationary object that cannot be moved by the animal;
      
   7. The running cable line or trolley system must be at least ten (10) feet in length and mounted at least four (4) feet and no more than seven (7) feet above ground level;
      
   8. The length of the tether from the running cable line or trolley system to the animal's collar should allow access to the maximum available exercise area and allow the animal free access to food, water, and shelter;
      
   9. Be attached to a properly fitted harness or collar not used for the display of a current rabies tag and other identification; and with enough room between the collar and the dog's throat through which two (2) fingers may fit. Choke collars and pinch collars are prohibited for the purpose of tethering an animal to a running cable line or trolley system; and
      
   10. Be tethered at sufficient distance from any other objects to prohibit the tangling of the cable, from extending over an object or an edge that could result in injury of strangulation of the animal and be of sufficient distance from any fence so as to prohibit the animal access to the fence.
       
       
6. If an electronic animal confinement system is used to confine an animal, it shall:
   1. Provide a properly fitted and working signal device that will be worn by the animal to be enclosed.
      
   2. Contain permanent and prominently displayed signs at twenty-five (25) feet intervals around the entire perimeter of the electronic animal confinement system. The signs shall be no smaller than six (6) inches square, and shall read: "Caution--Electronic Animal Confinement System."

(Ord. No. 04-15, Pt. I, 12-14-04; Ord. No. 05-08, Pt. I, 7-12-05)

Sec. 5-4.  Duty to restrain while off owner's property.

It shall be the duty of any person to keep an animal under restraint and control at all times while the animal is off the real property limits of the owner. Such areas shall not include county parks that are specifically designated as off leash areas.
(Ord. No. 04-15, Pt. I, 12-14-04)

Sec. 5-5.  Animals at large.

It shall be unlawful for the owner of an animal to allow it to run at large unattended on or about the streets, right of ways, and highways of unincorporated DeKalb County; in any DeKalb County park, except in county parks that are specifically designated as off leash areas; unattended on or about the common property of any apartment complex or condominium community; or on the property of another person without permission of the owner of that property. This section shall not apply to dogs being used for hunting in accordance with state law, rules and regulations.
(Ord. No. 04-15, Pt. I, 12-14-04)

• Dekalb County Animal Services.
• DeKalb County ANIMAL CONTROL Municipal Codes.
• Want to adopt a pet, visit: Dekalb County Pet Adoption on PetFinder.com
• DeKalb County Animal Control Veterinarian Directory.