Tethering/Chaining
Brownstown Charter Township, Michigan
133.825 – General regulations.
Sec. 8.15. Every person who owns or who has charge, care or custody of an animal shall comply with each of the following requirements:
(m) Tethering:
(1) A dog owner or person shall:
(i) Not tether a dog for four (4) or more continuous hours per day;
(ii) Tether a dog on a tether made of a coated steel cable or chain rated for the tethering of dogs;
(iii) Utilize a tether that is no less than fifteen (15) feet in length;
(iv) Not use a tether or any assembly or attachments thereto that weigh more than ten percent (10%) of the animal’s body weight, or due to weight, inhibits the free movement of the animal within the area tethered;
(v) Tether a dog with a buckle-type collar or harness; such collar shall be no less than one (1) inch bigger than the dog’s neck;
(vi) Not tether a dog in such a manner as to cause injury, strangulation, or entanglement of the dog on fences, trees, or other man-made or natural obstacles;
(vii) Tether a dog with continuous access to shade and appropriate shelter;
(viii) Tether a dog with an appropriate supply of fresh food and fresh water, which is secured so that such food and water supply cannot be tipped over by the tether;
(ix) Not tether a dog in an area where bare earth is present; the dog owner or person shall make reasonable accommodations to prevent the surface from becoming wet, muddy, or saturated with water;
(x) Not tether a dog that is less than six (6) months of age;
(xi) Not tether more than one dog to a single tether;
(xii) Not tether a dog to a stationary object which would allow a dog to come within five (5) feet of any property line;
(xiii) Not tether a dog without a swivel attached and/or equipped on both ends.