Gloucester, Massachusetts

Sec. 4-16f. Chaining or Tethering dog to stationary object; confinement; restrictions; penalty.

(a) No person owning or keeping a dog shall chain or tether a dog for longer than 5 hours in a 24-hour period and outside from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. unless the tethering is for not more than 15 minutes and the dog is not left unattended by the Owner, or Keeper. A tethering employed shall not allow the dog to leave the Owner’s or Keeper’s property. The tether shall be designed for dogs and no logging chains, other lines, or devices not designated for tethering dogs shall be used. No chain or tether shall weigh more than one-eighth of the dog’s body weight. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit a person from walking a dog on a hand-held leash. No dog under the age of six months shall be tethered outside for any length of time.

(b) A person shall not leave a dog outside when a weather advisory, warning, or watch is issued by a local, state or federal authority, or when outside environmental conditions including, but not limited to, extreme heat, cold, wind, rain, snow, or hail pose an adverse risk to the health or safety of the dog based on the dog’s breed, age, or physical condition, unless the tethering is for not more than 15 minutes.

(c) An exception to a restriction on outdoor confinement under this section that is reasonably necessary for the safety of a dog shall be made for a dog that is: (i) present in a camping or recreational area pursuant to the policy of the camping or recreational area; or (ii) actively engaged in conduct that is directly related to the business of shepherding, or herding cattle or other livestock, or engaged in conduct that is directly related to the business of cultivating agricultural products.

(d) No person owning or keeping a dog shall subject the dog to cruel conditions or inhumane chaining or tethering at any time. For the purpose of this subsection, “cruel conditions and inhumane chaining or tethering” shall include, but not be limited to, the following conditions:

(1) Filthy and dirty confinement conditions including, but not limited to, exposure to excessive Animal waste, garbage, dirty water, noxious odors, dangerous objects that could injure or kill a dog upon contact, or other circumstances that could cause harm to a dog’s physical or emotional health;
(2) Taunting, prodding, hitting, harassing, threatening, or otherwise harming a tethered or confined dog; and,
(3) Subjecting a dog to dangerous conditions, including attacks by other Animals.

(e) A person who violates this section shall, for a first offense, be issued a written warning or punished by a fine of not more than $50.00; for a second offense, be punished by a fine of not more than $200.00; and for a third or subsequent offense, be punished by a fine of not more than $500.00, and be subjected to impoundment of the dog in a local shelter at the Owner’s or Keeper’s, expense pending compliance with this section, or loss of ownership of the dog.