Detroit, Michigan

March 14, 2017

No dog shall be tethered continuously for more than three hours per day or with a tether that is too short or too heavy or prevents access to food, water, or protection from the weather. Puppies under 4 months old may not be tethered.

Sec. 6-2-2. Dog restraint; prolonged tethering prohibited under certain circumstances.
(c) No owner of a dog shall:
(1) Continuously tether a dog for more than three hours per day;
(2) Tether a dog using a tether made of anything but a coated steel cable at any length less than three times the length of the dog as measured from the tip of its nose to the base of its tail;
(3) Use a tether or any assembly or attachments that amount to more than 10% of the dog’s weight or that significantly inhibit the movement of the dog within the tethered area;
(4) Attach a dog to a tether by means of any implement other than a buckle-type collar or harness, so as to risk injury, strangulation, or entanglement of the dog on fences, trees, or other obstacles;
(5) Tether a dog without access to shade when sunlight is likely to cause overheating or without access to appropriate shelter for insulation and protection against cold and dampness when the atmospheric temperature falls below forty degrees Fahrenheit;
(6) Tether a dog without securing its food and water source to prevent its being tipped over or spilled by the tether;
(7) Tether a dog in an open area that does not provide the dog protection from attack from people or other animals;
(8) Tether a dog in an area composed entirely of bare earth subject to becoming wet and muddy in the event of precipitation, and without any dry surface area for cover or protection;
(9) Tether a dog under four months old;
(10) Tether more than one dog to a single tether;
(11) Tether a dog to a stationary object that would allow the dog to come within five feet of any property line; or
(12) Tether a dog without a swivel attached or equipped on both ends.