Suffolk County, New York

§ 299-51 Prohibitions.

A. It shall be unlawful for any person to tether, leash, fasten, secure, restrain, chain or tie a dog to any stationary object outdoors or cause such dog to be restrained in a manner that:

(1) Endangers such dog’s health, safety or well-being;

(2) Restricts such dog’s access to suitable and sufficient food, fresh, potable water and dry ground;

(3) Does not provide such dog with shelter appropriate to its breed, physical condition, and the climate as defined by § 353-b of the New York State Agriculture and Markets Law; or

(4) Unreasonably limits the movement of such dog because it is too short for the dog to move around or for the dog to urinate or defecate in a separate area from the area where it must eat, drink or lie down.

B. Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection A of this section, no person shall tether, leash, fasten, secure, restrain, chain or tie a dog to any object with a device that:

(1) Is a choke collar, pinch collar, or prong collar, or a similar collar that restrains the dog in such a manner that it impairs the flow of oxygen or blood to the dog, which may cause choking or causes substantial discomfort to the dog;

(2) Is embedded, partially embedded or may become embedded in such dog’s skin;

(3) Has weights attached or contains links that are more than 1/4 inch thick;

(4) Weighs more than 12.5% of the dog’s total body weight, not to exceed 15 pounds for any dog;

(5) Is less than 15 feet in length;

(6) Because of its design or placement is likely to become entangled;

(7) Is long enough to allow such dog to move outside of its owner’s property;

(8) Would allow the restrained dog to move over an object, including any fencing, barrier, or edge that could result in the strangulation of or injury to such dog; or

(9) Is fixed (i.e., does not swivel) on either end.

C. No person shall tether, leash, fasten, secure, restrain, chain or tie a dog to any stationary object outdoors for more than one continuous hour in any continuous twelve-hour period between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m.

D. No person shall tether, leash, fasten, secure, restrain, chain or tie a dog to any stationary object outdoors between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.

E. No person shall tether, leash, fasten, secure, restrain, chain or tie a dog to any stationary object outdoors if the dog is:

(1) Less than six months of age;

(2) Sick or injured; or

(3) A nursing mother whose offspring is present.

F. Multiple dogs shall not be tethered or restrained in such a manner that they are able to come into contact with one another at any point in time while restrained.

G. No person shall tether, leash, fasten, secure, restrain, chain, tie, pen or otherwise confine outdoors a dog when:

(1) The temperature is below 32° F.;

(2) The temperature is above 90° F.;

(3) The National Weather Service has issued a heat or wind chill advisory, watch or warning; or

(4) Conditions are not appropriate due to the breed, physical condition and climate, as established pursuant to New York State Agricultural and Markets Law § 353-b.