Doylestown, Pennsylvania

§ 110 Tethering and Leashing of Dogs.

Any person who fails to comply with the provisions listed in this section for a dog is in violation of § 102, related to cruelty to animals.

1. It shall be unlawful for any person to tether, fasten, chain, tie, restrain or cause an unattended dog to be fastened, chained, tied or restrained to houses, trees, fences, garages, stakes or other stationary or highly immobile objects by means of a rope, chain, strap or other physical restraint for the purpose of confinement, except in circumstances where all of the following requirements are satisfied:

A. The tethering is not for a longer period of time than reasonably necessary for the dog’s owner or custodian to complete a temporary task on the premises that requires the dog to be physically restrained.

B. The tether is attached to the dog by a well-fitting collar appropriate to the age and size of the dog and not with any choke, pinch or prong type of collar and attached to the stationary object by swivel anchors, latches, or similar devices in a manner which prevents the tether from becoming entangled around any object so as to limit the dog’s freedom within the tethered area, or to prevent the dog, or any of its appendages, from becoming entangled by the tether.

C. The tether or chain must be of a type commonly used for the size of the dog involved.

D. The dog has continual access to i) potable drinking water and ii) adequate shelter and an additional area of shade outside the shelter within the tethered area.

E. The dog is periodically monitored while tethered for the aforementioned reasonable period of time.