[Kristen Cabe]

In Asheville, there is a similar type of 'law' that states that if you own an intact animal, you have to buy a permit every year for $100. The only way they can enforce this, though, is if they catch your animal running loose. Then they fine you the $100 and issue a warning about letting the animal run loose.

Sec. 6-63. Spaying and neutering requirements; unaltered animals permit required.

No person shall own or harbor any dog or cat over the age of six months that has not been spayed or neutered unless such person holds an unaltered animal permit issued for such animal by the department of animal services, or any successor agency authorized by law to issue such a permit, except:

(1) Persons who own or harbor service dogs or police work dogs;
(2) Individuals who are non-residents of the county and reside temporarily therein for a period not to exceed 30 days;
(3) Animal shelters and veterinary hospitals; and
(4) Persons who own or harbor a dog or cat and who are in possession of a certification signed by a licensed veterinarian stating that such animal is unfit to be spayed or neutered because such procedure would endanger the life of such animal.
(Ord. No. 03-12-16, § 1, 12-2-03)

Sec. 6-64. Obtaining an unaltered animal permit.

Applicants must apply for permits required by section 6-63 above, with the director of animal services. The fee for an unaltered animal permit shall be $100.00. A tag will be issued identifying the animal as an unaltered animal and must be displayed at all times.
Note: Effective date February 1, 2004. For 60 days after the effective date, warning citations will be issued for unaltered animals without a permit. After April 1, 2004, citations will be issued to owners of unaltered animals not holding a permit. If the animal is altered within 30 days, the citation will be waived. A citation will only be issued under this section if the animal is in violation of another provision of this chapter.
(Ord. No. 03-12-16, § 1, 12-2-03)

 

[Kristen Cabe]

Is that bill saying you cannot tether your dog to something at all, or is it saying that the dog can only be there for a specified amount of time as long as certain requirements are met?

 

[Kristen Cabe]

I'd stay in SC. The price just to live in the Asheville area is unreal. To be able to buy a decent house that isn't falling apart or on less than 1/4 of an acre, you have to make $200,000 a year. We just got lucky when we found our house. It is a 1200sq ft square block house, built in 1954, on a basement that is completely underground (and gets water in it when it rains really hard or for several days in a row) with just a walk-out door, on 1/2 an acre. It has a separate 2-car garage with storage in the loft. We paid $120,000 for it, and that was a deal because my aunt knew the seller. Take a look at what you can buy NOW for $120,000. Ratty old mobile homes and fixer-uppers mostly. The average price for a home in the Asheville area is $265,000, but jobs here don't pay enough to even qualify for that much. The reason for all of these big, fancy, expensive homes is wealthy retirees moving to the area. People who were born and raised here can't even afford to live here anymore.

http://abr-nc.com/homestats.html

Plus, there isn't much here in the way of dogsports.