ROCK HILL, S.C. -- Should it be illegal to chain a dog in your yard? Even for a few hours?

Monday night, the York County Council heard a presentation from animal rights activists pushing to strengthen laws against animal abuse and neglect.

"If we stop chaining, we'll help stop dog fighting, and we'll help stop abuse," said Alicia Schwartz.

Schwartz just moved to York County a year ago and was outraged driving around and seeing dogs chained up.

"I told my husband I just can't drive to the grocery store and look at this," she said.

Several animal rights groups joined together to encourage council leaders to ban dog tethering. They're pointing out similar laws from other counties where chaining dogs is now illegal.

Schwartz said tethering dogs leads to aggressive behavior, which endangers children and the dog.

"It makes dogs aggressive, and if they can't run, they're going to fight, and, unfortunately, children are often the targets," Schwartz said.

But Daphne Talbert said she has no choice but to chain up her dog, Brassy.

"I'm on a fixed income, and I can't afford a fence," Talbert said.

Her dog is chained under a large tree. There's shade, a dog house, and plenty of water and food there.

Talbert said tethering a dog in that way is not cruel at all.

"She's safe, and she's not going to hurt anybody that walks by," she said.

York County Council members were presented with a plan to ban dog tethering and require dog owners to build a fence, a kennel or install a runner line that allows dogs more freedom and movement.

Council chairman Buddy Motz said it's a complex, often passionate issue, but there's good points on both sides of it.

"We're getting a lot of e-mails, correspondence and data saying that you should tether dogs, and some that you should not tether dogs," Motz said.

Animal Control officials answer about 200 complaints a month about animal abuse. A case in July sparked outrage when 13 pit bulls were found chained up in a yard in Rock Hill. They were scarred from fighting, according to a veterinarian. The dogs will be given back to their owner, but they are currently still at Animal Control.

Schwartz said the presentation before county council is an opportunity to protect people and their pets by changing behavior. She and others said tougher laws could go a long way toward saving lives, and preventing serious, often deadly bites.