5 Things Virginia’s New Anti-Tethering Law Means for Dogs
Effective on July 1, 2020, Virginia’s anti-tethering law prohibits keeping dogs tethered during certain weather conditions. PETA’s fieldworkers have found countless dogs languishing in frigid cold and oppressive heat and even some who have died after not being able to reach water, shade, or shelter (if any was even available) after getting tangled in the tether that they were trapped on every moment of their lives.
Since 2016, PETA has worked closely with legislators, testifying on behalf of dogs kept tethered and vigorously lobbying for bills to protect them from cruelty and neglect. And while we wish all dogs lived indoors with loving families, we know that this new law will give some relief to the deprived ones tethered outdoors 24/7, 365 days a year, across Virginia.
Here are five ways Virginia’s anti-tethering law will help tethered dogs:
1. They’ll be spared suffering and death from frostbite and heatstroke.
Leaving dogs tethered outside when temperatures drop to 32 degrees or below or soar to 85 degrees or above—along with during winter storms, tornadoes, hurricanes, and tropical storms—is now against Virginia law. As long as law-enforcement officials do their job of prohibiting owners from keeping dogs tethered outside in below-freezing temperatures in which they freeze, extreme heat in which they bake to death, and severe thunderstorms and floods in which they drown, this law will save lives.
2. Tethered dogs will have access to more space.
Under the new anti-tethering law, the tether length requirement has increased from 10 feet to a minimum of 15 feet or four times the length of the animal, whichever is greater.
3. It’ll be easier for PETA and law-enforcement agencies to serve and protect neglected dogs.
While some dog owners will fail to comply with this new law, these new anti-tethering requirements give animal advocates additional tools to protect the victims. Now, when PETA fieldworkers or animal control/humane officers find dogs neglected and chained during stifling summer days or frigid winter nights, they’ll have a specific law to refer to when providing the owner with information and ensuring that corrective measures are taken.
4. Good Samaritans will be more likely to report abuse.
This new legislation brings not only awareness but also very specific guidelines for residents to follow when they see a dog in distress. Neighbors and passersby are more likely to say something if they see something now that the law outlines specific temperatures that are too dangerous for dogs. We know that Virginians care deeply about dogs, and we encourage everyone to speak up if they see one tethered in violation of law. Never be silent—your phone call could save a life!
5. This commonsense anti-tethering legislation paves the way for future lifesaving bills.
This hard-won legislation recognizes that dogs kept tethered outdoors face life-threatening dangers simply because they’re chained and unable to escape extreme weather and even predators. PETA is grateful to Gov. Ralph Northam for his support on the tethering issue and to those members of the General Assembly who voted in favor of extending special protection to “man’s best friend.” A special thank-you to Sen. John Bell, Del. Mark Levine, and Sen. Lionell Spruill is in order for their steadfast championship of this issue. PETA will never stop working to end the cruel practice of keeping dogs chained outside 24/7.
If you see a dog or any other companion animal being neglected or otherwise abused, please speak up and help them by reporting it to local authorities. Take pictures if possible, and note how long an animal is left without adequate food, water, or shelter.
