Chained to a tree in the backyard of a Texas City home, a dog gnaws at his bowl -- not because he's hungry, but because he's angry.

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"He's saying, 'I'm so mad,'" explained Wendy Barwell, a Galveston County animal control officer.

She said the attack on the bowl is a case of displaced aggression.

KHOU

This will soon be illegal in Texas City.

"If it got off the chain, I'm pretty definite it would be us instead of the bowl," said Bardwell.

But the days of living at the end of a chain are numbered in Texas City. Whatever the dog's breed, whatever the reason.

Starting in 60 days, chaining dogs like Max will be illegal.

Texas City is among the first to pass an ordinance barring residents from chaining their dogs to stationary objects like trees, or even houses. Officials cited studies by the Humane Society.

"When you chain or tie an animal down and just leave it, it causes it to be more aggressive," said George Fuller, Community Service Director. "It also gives it the fight or flight syndrome. So anytime it gets off that chain, it's going to attack something."

"You have to put them somewhere," complained Kelly Slovak. "You have to put them on a chain if you keep them inside the fence."

What you have to do is build a fence that will keep them inside, while also providing 150 square feet of space. That or keep them inside your home. Dogs, after all, are social creatures.

"They need to be part of the family, not just chained to the tree," said Kil Schoolcraft, the animal control director.

Because there's more to responsible ownership, than simply providing food and water.