Fort Smith, Arkansas

December 27, 2012

Dogs may not be tethered as a primary means of confinement, but they may be attached to a trolley system provided that certain requirements are met.

Sec. 4-120. Regulations for tethering dogs

(a) No person shall tether, fasten, chain, tie, or restrain a dog, or cause any dog to be tethered, fastened, chained, tied, or restrained to a dog house, tree, fence, or any other stationary object with the intent that the tethering will be the animal’s primary means of permanent containment.

(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a), a person may do any of the following:

(1) Attach a dog to a trolley system as long as the trolley system is not intended as a means of permanent containment; or

(2) Tether, fasten, or tie a dog to a stationary object no longer than is necessary for the person responsible for the dog to complete a temporary task (e.g., cutting the grass, washing a car, gardening). In such temporary event, the dog must have convenient access to a sheltered area and containers of food and water.

(c) An acceptable trolley system is subject to the following requirements:

(1) The trolley system must be at least five (5) times the length of the dog’s body, as measured from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail; it must terminate at both ends with a swivel; it must not weigh more than one-eighth (1/8) of the dog’s weight; it must be free of tangles; and, it must be attached at two (2) permanent points elevated four (4) to seven (7) feet off the ground in a manner that allows the tether to move freely along the length of the cable; and

(2) The tether must be connected to the dog by a properly fitted, buckle-type collar or body harness of a size appropriate for the animal. A tether shall not be connected by means of a choke-type, pinch-type or prong type collar; and

(3) The dog must be tethered to a trolley system in such a manner as to prevent injury, strangulation, or entanglement; and

(4) The dog shall not be outside tethered to a trolley system during a period of extreme weather, including but not limited to, extreme heat or near-freezing temperatures, thunderstorms, or tornadoes; and

(5) The dog must have access to food, water, shade and shelter or dry ground; and

(6) Except as indicated hereafter, no person shall tether any dog outside to a trolley system unless the animal has been spayed/neutered. However, it is permissible to tether an intact dog when under the direct visual observation of the owner at all times the dog is tethered; it is also permissible to tether an intact dog if it is inside a completely fenced area that will prevent other dogs from coming into contact with the tethered intact dog; and

(7) No more than one (1) dog at a time may be attached to the same trolley system.

(d) An acceptable tether system for temporary purposes is subject to these requirements:

(1) When tethered, fastened, chained, tied, or restrained to stationary object, the tether must allow the free and untangled movement of the dog.

(2) The tether must be connected to the dog by a properly fitted harness (recommended) or collar appropriate for the dog. The harness or collar must fit in such a manner as to prevent injury, harm, and strangulation to the dog or allow the contained dot to escape.

(3) The minimum length of a tether is ten (10) feet.

(4) Except as indicated hereafter, no person shall tether any dog outside unless the animal has been spayed or neutered. However, it is permissible to tether an intact dog when under the direct visual observation of the owner at all times the dog is tethered; it is also permissible to tether an intact dog if it is inside a completely secured enclosure that will prevent other dogs from coming into contact with the tethered intact dog; and

(5) The dog is to be monitored periodically.