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Your North Metro Atlanta Realtor is Proud to Share this Important Information with YOU!!!

Residents who chain or tether dogs to fixed objects while they are unattended must find an alternative means of restraining their pets beginning September 4, 2009. In March, the Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to ban the practice of chaining or tethering dogs. District 2, At-Large Commissioner Robb Pitts sponsored the resolution.

The introduction of the amendment attracted dozens of animal advocates who supported the ban. According to the Humane Society, “A dog kept chained in one spot for hours, days, months or even years suffers immense psychological damage. An otherwise friendly and docile dog, when kept continuously chained, becomes neurotic unhappy, anxious and often aggressive.”

Additionally, the Humane Society warns that tethering is dangerous to dogs because they become targets for other animals, humans and biting insects. Tethers can become entangled with other objects, which can choke or strangle dogs. Tethers can also cause dogs necks to become raw and covered with sores because of poorly fitted collars along with the animal straining against the collar in constant attempts to escape Collars can also become embedded in a dog’s neck without proper care and fitting.

Under the amended ordinance, dogs cannot be tethered to a fixed object unless held by an attendant or by the owner.

Options for properly restraining dogs include dog runs, mesh fencing and chain link fences. Chain link fences are stronger and more durable; however, residents of cities and unincorporated areas within Fulton are urged to check with their local governments for any required fencing permits and homeowners associations to determine the appropriate types of fencing before purchasing fencing or fence construction supplies.

For additional suggestions or supplies, owners should visit their local hardware or home improvement stores. Additionally, Barking Hound Village, the County’s Animal Services provider, has instructions for constructing appropriate fencing. Call 404-794-0358 or visit www.bhvf.org.

For more information on the dog-tethering ban in Fulton County, contact the Department of Environment and Community Development’s Code Enforcement Division at 404-612-2723.
 

Facts about Dog Tethering

Dog Tethering is inhumane.

The practice can lead to injuries and psychological damage. A dog that is kept chained or tethered in one spot for days and months at a time can become anxious and aggressive. Their necks can also be injured from straining to escape their tethers or chains. Some dogs develop sores around their necks or strangle themselves because of poor care. Others can become entangled with objects or suffer neglect while tethered to fixed objects.

The U. S. Department of Agriculture and animal advocates such as the Humane Society warn of the dangers and cruelty of restricting a dog’s movements through tethering.

Tethered dogs are often victims of neglect.

Tethered dogs are left frequently without enough water, placed in locations that do not protect them from the sun on hot summer days or from the winter cold. They often do not receive affection although many dogs are often highly social animals when given proper care and attention.

Tethered dogs can be dangerous to people.

Dogs that are constantly tethered for days and months at a time are often highly aggressive and territorial. Documented reports indicate that their victims are often people, particularly children, who wander into their vicinity without realizing the danger.

Tethered dogs are dangerous to other animals

Unfamiliar animals also face potential attack. Animals at risk include smaller dogs, cats, rabbits and other pets who may unknowingly wander into a tethered dog’s space.
 

Tethering Prohibited in Fulton County

Section 34-205(b) of the Fulton County Code of Ordinances is hereby amended to add the following new subparagraphs:

(5) It shall be unlawful for the owner, custodian, or harborer of any dog to restrain or anchor such animal by means of a tether. Notwithstanding the prior sentence, a dog may be temporarily restrained by means of a tether while the dog is attended by its owner, custodian, or harborer.

(6) Any tether used to temporarily confine a dog while attended by its owner, custodian, or harborer as provided in subsection (5′), above, must be attached to a properly fitted collar or harness and shall not be wrapped directly around the dog’s neck. Such tethers shall not be excessively heavy or weighted to inhibit the dog’s movement.

Healthy Alternatives to Tethering
(From Fulton County Animal Services)

Bring your dog inside.

This is the ideal situation for your dog to become part of the family. Fulton County Animal Services along with Dogs Deserve Better will be glad to teach you how to walk him, help you housetrain, and show you how to teach him what is okay and is not okay to chew on. A well-trained dog is a loyal friend for life.

Spay and neuter.

Fulton County Animal Services is glad to fix your pets for free! A neutered male is less likely to try to escape a fence or ‘mark’ in the home. A spayed female dog will not go into heat so she will not roam looking for a mate. In addition, spaying reduces unwanted litters of puppies- helping to decrease the number of strays in our communities.

Install a fence.

A secure fence, at the appropriate height, gives your dog limited freedom and makes house training easier with quick access to the outdoors. Fencing can be cheap and easy to put up. We are glad to provide information on organizations that will help you build or improve fences and dog runs in your yard.

For further information, contact Fulton County Animal Services at 404-794-0358 www.FultonAnimalServices.Com or Dogs Deserve Better at: 1-877-636-1408 www.DogsDeserveBetter.org.

Your North Metro Atlanta Realtor would like to share this important information with YOU!

Your East Cobb Realtor would like to share this important information with YOU!

August 19, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Cobb ACT Scores Rise In All Subjects
Fifth consecutive year of improvement; top state & national averages

For the fifth consecutive year Cobb County’s college-bound seniors have improved the school district’s composite score on the ACT college-preparation test. Recently released scores show Cobb students increased their average score in every subject area of the test. Cobb students also topped state and national averages in all four subject areas, as well as in the composite average, just as they did in 2008, and even widened the margin of performance in 2009.

ACT scores for the class of 2009 indicate that Cobb graduates are well prepared for success in their first year of college. The 2009 seniors posted an average composite score of 22.1 (out of a possible 36), slightly higher than last year’s score of 22.0. The composite average was 1.5 points higher than the state average, and 1.0 points higher than the national average. Across the subject areas tested, Cobb students topped the national averages in English (+1.2), Math (+1.2), Reading (+1.1), and Science Reasoning (+0.6). The ACT assessment measures high school students’ overall educational development and their readiness for the challenge of core college classes. Cobb seniors’ composite average has topped the state and national average for 13 consecutive years.

“The ACT is valued more and more in college admissions, and these results show colleges and universities that Cobb County students are prepared for the rigors of college course work,” said Superintendent Fred Sanderson. “I’m very proud of the fact that we continue to show improvement, and our students are widening the gap between Cobb’s average and the national average in every subject.”

Students taking more rigorous classes in science or math tended to have higher ACT scores, promoting the value of enrollment in more advanced classes at the high school level. For example, Cobb students who participated in a high school math course sequence that included Algebra I and II, Geometry, Trigonometry, and Calculus, had scores more than eight points higher than students with less than three years of math coursework. Similarly, students taking advanced science classes that included General Science, Biology, Chemistry and Physics scored almost four points higher than those taking less than three years of science.

Results reflect the performance of 2,748 Cobb high school seniors (38 percent of all graduating seniors). Scores are for 2008-2009 seniors who took the ACT voluntarily in either their sophomore, junior or senior year of high school.

Scores for individual Cobb high schools are available on the District Web site.

Call or Email me today for all of your Real Estate needs! Jodi Smith, Atlanta Real Estate Agent with Keller Williams Realty Consultants in Roswell, Georgia.  CELL:  678-763-6025 or EMAIL:  jodismith@kw.com

Your East Cobb Realtor would like to share this important information with YOU!

Your Atlanta Real Estate Agent would like to share this important information with YOU!

Many Real Estate Agents are aware of Trulia…but for those of you who aren’t, let me enlighten you!

Trulia is a Real Estate site for consumers and realtors alike.  Consumers can find properties and ask Real Estate related questions.  Realtors can post blogs, post their listings and answer consumers questions. 

For the consumer, this is great for many reasons.  They can ask questions without feeling obligated to enlist the services of a Real Estate agent.  They can also use this tool to find an agent, if they don’t already have one in mind.

For the Realtor, this is a great tool because it not only allows answer questions from people all of the country, but it also allows you to narrow down the questions to your specific area. 

For the Realtor, especially a newer one who may have a lot of questions of their own, this is a great place to go and look at more experienced realtors answers and use that as a sort of educational system for themselves.  I’m not “new”, but I have learned a lot from the answers that I have read on Trulia.

Also, for Realtors, there is a place that you can enter your web address on each answer page and it links it directly back to your website.  Now, for those of you who don’t already know this, the more links you have going TO your website, the more searchable you are in search engines such as Google.

Now, for myself, I have gone on Trulia, on and off, and answered questions over the past few months.  I didn’t really do it consistantly and I only was answering questions from my specific area (Marietta and Roswell, Georgia) .  So, over the weekend I went on Trulia and started answering questions from everywhere.  California, Florida, Pennsylvania.  All across the country, including my market area of North Metro Atlanta.  I entered a signature paragraph on every answer and linked my website back to every answer as well.

On Monday I received an email from a lady that I had answered a question for who lives in Decatur, Georgia.   She wanted to sell her home there and move to Roswell.  She liked what I had to say and decided to allow me to help her with this move.  I referred her to several lenders and she decided on one, went through the application process, and we are going this weekend to look at homes for her (her chosen lender, Bob LeMoine with Community Mortgage Services, in Roswell, found that she did not have to sell her current home in order to purchase another one…bonus!)

Now, I realize that by posting this that I run the risk of more competition in my market area, but I felt it was something that I needed to blog about and share with other agents such as myself who are aggressive about finding new business and who aren’t afraid to go out there and do something new.

Trulia, is TRULY a good idea!!!

Call or Email me today for all of your Real Estate needs! Jodi Smith, Atlanta Real Estate Agent with Keller Williams Realty Consultants in Roswell, Georgia.  CELL:  678-763-6025 or EMAIL:  jodismith@kw.com