Fort Lauderdale, Florida

June 16, 2006

This ordinance prohibits the tethering of cats, dogs who are under the age of 6 months, and any dog during periods of extreme weather or for longer than 15 minutes between the hours of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Any tethering of dogs during other times must meet certain conditions.

Section 6-35. Supervision and Confinement; Tethering.

A. It shall be unlawful for any person who owns or any person who is in charge or in control of any dog or cat to confine or tether that animal outdoors during periods of extreme weather, such as periods of unusually cold or hot temperatures, or periods of poor air quality, or when a hurricane or tropical storm warning has been issued.

B. It shall be unlawful for any person who owns or any person who is in charge or in control of any dog or cat and who confines that dog or cat outdoors on private property to fail to provide the animal with:

6. A tether, which may be employed subject to the following regulations:

a. It shall be unlawful for any person who owns or any person who is in charge or in control of any dog that is under the age of six months to tie, chain, or otherwise tether a dog that is under the age of six months outdoors. It shall be unlawful for any person who owns or any person who is in charge or in control of any cat to tie, chain, or otherwise tether a cat outdoors.

b. It shall be unlawful for any person who owns or any person who is in charge or in control of any dog that is over the age of six months to tie, chain, or otherwise tether a dog outdoors between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. except that a dog of any age may be temporarily tethered, tied, or chained outdoors for a total time period not exceeding fifteen minutes. At other times, it is permitted to tie, chain, or otherwise tether a dog that is over the age of six months outdoors if the dog is harnessed by a properly-fitting body harness that is fastened to either

i. a tether that is at least ten feet long and that is free from entanglement and that allows the dog to move unheeded; or

ii. an overhead run, which is an overhead wire at least 10 feet long to which the dog’s body harness is attached by a leash or chain, that allows the dog to move unheeded.