Tethering Your Dog — New State Legislation Imposes New Requirements

IMPORTANT NOTIFICATION FROM YOUR ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER

New state legislation includes new restrictions on the care and safety of dogs. Those who do not comply face penalties. 

Conditions for tethering or chaining dogs: The law reduces the length of time each day a dog can be tethered outside from 24 to five (5) hours.  No outdoor tethering is permitted during severe weather, and dogs can be tethered outdoors for no more than 15 supervised minutes between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.

Enclosing a dog in an outdoor pen: The pen must be at least 100 square feet and meet other conditions. 2) a fully fenced, electronically fenced or otherwise securely enclosed yard, wherein a dog has the ability to run but is unable to leave the enclosed yard; or

Putting a dog on a cable run: Only one dog may be tethered to each cable run, the cable must run at least 10 feet, and there are specific standards for the tether, how the collar fits, and prohibiting choke collars.

Electronic fence confinement is permitted.

Care and safety outdoors: In all cases, the dog must have access to clean water and dry shelter that holds in heat, has clean bedding, and is free from ice or waste.

If heat, cold, wind, rain, snow or hail would be unhealthy or unsafe for the dog, leaving the dog outside is not permitted, unless by tethering for not more than 15 minutes.

Cruel or inhumane conditions: the law prohibits any actions that subject a dog to

• Filthy or unhealthy confinement conditions;
• Taunting, prodding, hitting, harassing, threatening or otherwise harming a tethered or confined dog;
• Subjecting a dog to dangerous conditions, including attacks by other animals.

Penalties: Penalties include written warnings, fines, impoundment of the dog, and loss of ownership of the dog, depending on severity and repetition of the offenses. Animal Control enforces these laws.

There are exceptions for dog kennels, dogs used in agricultural work, and being outdoors on camping trips. The complete text is at https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXX/Chapter140/Section174E