By Amanda Raymond

amanda.raymond@salisburypost.com

SPENCER — Starting Friday, Spencer residents will only be able to tether their dogs for two hours a day.

At a Board of Aldermen meeting in April, the board voted to approve an ordinance amendment to cut down on the amount of time animals can be tethered to trees, fences, posts, or any other stationary objects.

According to the new ordinance, animals cannot be tethered for more than two hours in any 24-hour period.

The Spencer Police Department will enforce the ordinance, but Town Manager Reid Walters said enforcement would first be educational.

Land Management Director Troy Powell put together about 100 informational brochures. At the June Board of Aldermen meeting, Police Chief Michael James said officers had distributed most of the brochures, and people have picked some up.

James also mentioned during the meeting that the department had received 774 animal complaints since 1999.

In an email, Walters said more brochures have been ordered.

Penalties for violations include a $100 fine or up to 30 days of imprisonment with each day of violation being a separate offense.

Local residents can pick up the brochures at the Spencer Town Hall at 600 S. Salisbury Ave.

Contact reporter Amanda Raymond at 704-797-4222.