Ecorse, Michigan

Sec. 5-15. – Tethering of dogs.

(a) Tethering means the practice of securing a dog to a stationary object by means of a metal chain or coated steel cable for keeping a dog restrained in its movement. Tethering does not mean walking a dog on a leash, or for temporary grooming, or other professional service.

(b) It shall be unlawful for a person to do any of the following:

(1) Continuously tether a dog for more than three (3) hours per day.

(2) Tether a dog on a tether made of anything but a coated steel cable more than ten (10) feet in length.

(3) Use a tether or any assembly or attachments thereto to tether a dog that shall weigh more than ten (10) percent of the animal’s body weight, or due to weight, inhibit the free movement of the animal within the area tethered.

(4) Tether a dog on anything except a buckle-type collar or harness, or tethering on a choke chain or around the dog’s neck, or tethered to training collars such as choke or pinch-style collars, or in such a manner as to cause injury, strangulation, or entanglement of the dog on fences, trees, or other man-made or natural obstacles.

(5) Tether a dog without access to shade when sunlight is likely to cause overheating, or without appropriate shelter to provide insulation and protection against cold and dampness when the atmospheric temperature falls below forty (40) degrees Fahrenheit, or to tether a dog without securing its food and water supply so that it cannot be tipped over by the tether.

(6) Tether a dog in an open area where it can be teased by persons or an open area that does not provide the dog protection from attack by other animals.

(7) 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 or cover for protection.

(8) Tether a dog less than four (4) months of age.

(9) Tether more than one dog to a single tether.

(10) Tether a dog to a stationary object which would allow a dog to come within five (5) feet of any property line.

(11) Tether a dog without a swivel attached and/or equipped on both ends.

(c) The animal control officer, or his/her designee, may in his/her discretion temporarily order a more restrictive tethering requirement if circumstances require and it is not detrimental to the health, safety, or welfare of the dog.

(d) Penalty. Any person found violating this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500.00) or by imprisonment for not more than ninety (90) days, or by both said fine and imprisonment.