For animal lovers it's incomprehensible to leave dogs on chains all day, every day. It's shown that chained dogs are more aggressive, and much more vulnerable.

Charleston's city council is taking steps to try and stop it from happening. But changing dog laws is not as easy as it may sound.

For people who bring their pets to run around in the dog park on Charleston’s east end keeping them chained up all day isn't something they can even imagine.

Nathanel Jones says, “It makes me angry, you know it's upsetting for the animal.“

Nathanel Jones and his short hair chow named floppy are family. It's that closeness that's missing in these cases. For those dogs that are tied up they don’t get the relationships and dogs really need that.

These pictures are difficult to see and Charleston’s Public Safety Committee is now working to change some old laws that are still on the books.

Roger Wolfe, Charleston Animal Shelter explains, “Animal ordinances in Charleston are very antiquated, state laws have been changed many times and we think some fairly comprehensive changes need to be made.”

The animal shelter will be working closely with the city and this is one of the proposed changes:
Dogs could be chained for an hour at a time, if they're then off for three hours. In total the dog could only be chained for three hours a day.

That's one issue, but laws involving other items, like barking and animal cruelty will also be addressed.

Betty Morton, Charleston City Council, “It does and that's really what we need, we need a law here in city that will take care of these people that will take care of these dogs that are chained and neglected continuously.”

Robin Demarchi comments, the animals that are tied up, its ridiculous and it's not outside of Charleston in the county where you think it would be it's right here in town and these animals have a terrible life.

The Public Safety Committee will meet again in two weeks to talk more about the ordinance.
Committee members expect to have a proposal ready for council in three weeks.