A look at how to find resources to help pets in need

GROVETOWN, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Pictures of an emaciated dog in Grovetown are sparking outrage on social media.  

Within the last two hours, Columbia County says the dog has been impounded and taken to a vet. 

We went digging to see what your options are if you spot an animal that looks like it needs help. 

While walking in the neighborhood on a lunch break, Kayla Newman says, “I seen the dog, and I was like something has to be done.” 

Newman and her mom snapped a picture of this dog named Angel. 

“Without all the people’s comments and God, this wouldn’t have happened,” said Newman. 

Jessica Rock, animal crimes resource prosecutor, said: “I think that some of us believe that anytime we’re dealing with an animal, we should just call animal control and let them handle whatever that issue is. And unfortunately, so many of the things that us humans are perpetrating to on animals, whether it’s neglect or it’s abuse, are so much more than just ordinance violations, they actually violate our state law and are arrestable offenses.” 

Rock is an animal crimes resource prosecutor for Georgia. She says Georgia is the third state in the nation with this position. 

“My role is to provide training for law enforcement, animal control, prosecutors, anybody who is involved in the investigation and prosecution of animal crimes, and then I also serve as a resource for them across the entire state anytime they are investigating the case or prosecuting the case and need the assistance of a resource prosecutor,” said Rock. 

She says local animal controls and police reach out to her and she provides the training. 

“They will oftentimes send me pictures or videos and tell me what’s been done so far. And then asked me to kind of assess the situation in terms of, you know, maybe it doesn’t raise the level of the state law, and maybe they need to look at starting something under their local ordinance. Or if it does rise to the level of state law, what’s been done, have the owners been contacted?” she said. 

Rock says she has worked with local agencies in our area but says the training she does with police and animal control is key here. 

To pet owners, she recommends getting familiar with what the law requires you to do when it comes to taking care of your animals. 

As for the angel’s owner, according to Columbia County and Grovetown Police Department, she is not facing any charges. 

Different counties have different laws when it comes to even being able to tie a dog up outside in the first place. 

Our I-TEAM spent the day digging into tethering laws.  

When it comes to our biggest counties, it seems Columbia County has the least restrictions. 

That’s because Columbia County does not place any limits on the amount of time a dog owner can keep a dog chained up outside. 

There are a few regulations though. 

The dog must have access to clean water, food and appropriate shelter. The shelter must be big enough for the dog to stand, lie down and turn. 

In Aiken County, dogs can be tethered, but only for a “brief period of time necessary to complete a temporary task.” 

The ordinance specifically states that brief period can only be four hours or less. 

During that time, the dog must have access to adequate water, food and shelter based on weather conditions.  

The tether also has to be at least 15 feet and have a swivel that allows the dog to move in a circle. 

If you’re using a trolley system, it has to be at least 20 feet long and 3 feet above the height of the dog. 

The dog can’t get tangled in it and has access to shelter. 

There are collar requirements too. For example, pinch and choke collars are not allowed. 

Dogs under the age of 6 months, or those that are sick are in distress, are not allowed to be tethered at all.  

The same goes for a female dog in heat, which needs to be inside or in a secure enclosure. 

In Richmond County, you can only tether a dog if you are outside with it and the dog is in your line of sight. 

Again, very different rules depending on where you live. 

And these laws aren’t set in stone. 

Aiken County just changed theirs to make them more restrictive a few years ago thanks to animal activists and rescues. 

So, if you don’t like the laws in your county, it never hurts to contact your lawmakers and let them know. 

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