IRVING - A tethering ordinance has led to a heated debate between dog owners in the city of Irving.

The city is expected to pass the ordinance Thursday, which would make it a misdemeanor for owners to leaver their dogs tethered anywhere without supervision.

"It will prevent animals from spending their lives on chains," said Fred Sanderson, with Irving Animal Services, which supports the ordinance.

Whether the dog is in the front yard, back yard or in a park, the ordinance says the dog shouldn't be tied up without an owner present.

"It's very liberal and very progressive," Sanderson said.

Sanderson said he is an advocate of the ordinance since he said

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that animals that are chained up are three times more likely to bite someone than those unchained.

"I think it's positive because there are a lot of kids unattended that come through, and kids tend to go up to animals they don't understand are not all friendly," said a resident for the ordinance.

However, not everyone agrees with the tether rule.

"You can't let them run loose, so what can you do?" said Johanna Drury, who said the ordinance is too strict. "...I can see not leaving them out there all day and all night, but for a little while, I don't see what it hurts."

Once the ordinance is passed, the first time a dog is spotted tethered with no owner in sight, its owner will receive a warning. If there is a second time, the owner will then be issued a fine ranging from a few bucks to $2,000.

"After we've notified you and you don't correct it, we write Class C misdemeanor tickets," Sanderson said.

With money on the line, animal control expects 95 percent of Irving residents to comply without ever being questioned. The ordinance also says dog leashes cannot reach the sidewalk.

Grand Prairie already has a similar ordinance on the books. There you can leave your dog tethered three hours, but no longer.

Other North Texas communities are also considering a similar ban on tethers.