Neighbor says video of dogs fighting also shows violation of new tether laws

SMYRNA, Ga. — Neighbors say not enough is being done to protect animals after a woman recorded video showing tethered dogs fighting in her neighborhood.

"It's hard to watch but I had to get it out there that this is what's happening," Smyrna resident Jessica Pilcher told Channel 2's Carl Willis.

Pilcher gave Willis the video that she says shows her neighbor's tethered dogs fighting in the yard Monday morning.

"It is a helpless feeling when you see all of that blood and they are just going for the throat," Pilcher said.

She explained why she decided to record instead of stepping in.

"In the past, I’ve helped numerous times and nothing ever gets done so I decided it was time to pick up my phone, record what happens on a monthly basis here and hope that I can get some help for these animals," Pilcher said.

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Pilcher told Willis that the dogs are continuously tethered outside a home on Terrace Drive in Smyrna, the same Cobb County city that voted in December to ban most tethering to match Cobb County's recently changed code.

"It is now illegal to tether your animals unless they are monitored 24/7 and in this case these animals live outside all the time," Pilcher said.

She said Animal Control came to the home and told the owners of the changes they would need to make. She hopes they're changes that everyone in violation will make as soon as possible.

"I don't think that it's been talked about a lot. I think that people in the dog community are aware of the ordinance," Pilcher said. "Eventually, one of these dogs could die and I don't want that on my hands."

Willis was unable to speak with the dog owner, but another neighbor stepped in while Willis was in the neighborhood. That neighbor said the owners agreed to build pens to keep the dogs separated and safe.

Cox Media Group