Pinellas County, Florida

November 3, 2014

Sec. 14-31. – Unlawful restraint of dogs and cats.

(a) No person shall tether, fasten, chain, tie, or restrain a dog or cat, or cause a dog or cat to be tethered, fastened, chained, tied, or restrained, to a dog house, tree, fence, or any other stationary object.

(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a), a person may do the following:

(1) A dog or cat may be tethered when it is in visual range of the owner, and the owner is located outside with the tethered animal.

(2) Tether, fasten, chain, tie, or otherwise restrain a dog or cat pursuant to the requirements of a camping or recreational area.

(c) In all cases where tethering is permissible the following conditions must be met:

(1) The dog or cat must be attached to the tether by a buckle type collar or a body harness. A dog or cat shall not be tethered by means of a choke-type, pinch-type, prong-type, or improperly fitting collar;

(2) The tether has the following properties: it is at least five times the length of the tethered animal’s body, as measured from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail; it terminates at both ends with a swivel; it does not weigh more than one-eighth of the tethered animal’s weight; and it is free of tangles;

(3) The dog or cat is tethered in such a manner as to prevent injury, strangulation, or entanglement;

(4) If there are multiple dogs or cats, each dog or cat must be tethered separately. The tethering of each dog or cat must be in accordance with the requirements of this code;

(5) The dog or cat is not outside during a period of extreme weather, including without limitation extreme heat or near-freezing temperatures, thunderstorms, tornadoes, tropical storms, or hurricanes;

(6) The dog or cat has access to water, adequate shelter, and dry ground;

(7) The dog or cat is at least six months of age. Puppies or kittens shall not be tethered; and

(8) The dog or cat is not sick or injured.