Animal rights groups like the Humane Society say dogs left chained alone often become aggressive and dangerous.
In March of 2011, 17-month old Dylan Andres was mauled to death by a neighbor’s dog in Jacksonville when the toddler wandered into their yard.
He had walked away from his mother as she was unloading groceries from the car. The neighbor’s rottweiler had been chained to a pole while owner was away.
Animal rights group have been pushing for legislation to ban unattended dog tethering.
Renee Rivard with the League of Humane Voters says the city needs to act because state law is flawed.
"Under Florida State law a dog can be left chained as long as it has food, water and shelter," she told the City Council on Tuesday. "This does not protect the public or the dog. The dog can strangle itself, be stolen, attacked by other animals or cruel humans, and suffer from heat exhaustion. Not to mention the lack of socialization and emotional distress it endures."
Rivard says Miami-Dade, Palm Beach and several counties in Florida have already banned unattended tethering of animals.
The City Council held a public hearing on the bill this week and a final vote could come next month.
