LOL really???

Thursday 1PM: headed home after a quick Costco run, got a call from my hubby that went something like this:
"Hey Hun', the Animal Services guy is here and wants to know if Tiffany has a license. Does she?"
She does now lol.
As it turns out, some unknown someone reported a dog on a 'too-short' chain tied to the porch on a house on our street. Just happens that the house in question is ours!
The Animal services guys who came down to the house, and who waited in their van until one of us came home, explained to my hubby that 1- a dog should NEVER be left outside for hours without water, and shelter(Tiffany never is-er duh!) - 2- that the rope (attached at one end to a collar and the other end to the porch rail) was too short, that a dog must be able to lay down, turn around comfortably, & be able to walk off of the porch and stand on the walkway. When Don brought Tiffany outside and put the collar on her, she demonstrated that she could easily walk down the porch steps and stand on the walkway, turn around, lie down, etc. At that point one of the men said, he still wanted us to lengthen the lead a few more feet. He also wants us to have a bowl of water outside for her.
I agree that a dog who is LEFT outside must have water available to them at all times. Better yet don't leave a dog outside all the time. That's a no brainer. Tiffany goes out on our front porch in the early AMs when I'm not working, & sits in the sun to bask in the warmth. Most of the time I am sitting with her. (Yes, I love to 'bask' in the warmth of the AM sun) LOL
To lengthen her lead would give her easy access to the sidewalk out front of our house: you know, the one people use to walk past our house, the one the skaters and bike-riders whizz by on...little kids run to 7-11 on, etc., etc. It would also give passers-by easier access to her, and you KNOW that ain't about to happen! LOL So she won't be getting a longer lead anytime soon.
I sure do love my doggy!