Garden City, Michigan

§ 90.03 CARE OF ANIMALS.

No person shall:

(E)   Inappropriately tether a domesticated animal in violation of this section. As used herein, TETHERING means the practice of securing a domesticated animal to a stationary object by means of a metal chain or coated steel cable to keep it restrained. TETHERING does not mean walking a domesticated animal on a leash, or for temporary grooming, or other professional service. It shall be unlawful for a person to:

(1)   Continuously tether a domesticated animal for more than three hours per day;

(2)   Tether a domesticated animal on a tether made of anything but a coated steel cable more than ten feet in length;

(3)   Use a tether, or any assembly or attachments thereto, to tether a domesticated animal that shall weigh more than 10% of the animal’s body weight, or that, due to the tether’s weight, inhibits the free movement of the animal within the area tethered;

(4)   Tether a domesticated animal on anything except a buckle-type collar or harness, tether it on a choke chain around its neck, or tether it to training collars such as choke or pinch-style collars, or tether it in such a manner as to cause its injury, strangulation, or entanglement on fences, trees, or other man-made or natural obstacles;

(5)   Tether a domesticated animal 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 40°F, or without securing its food and water supply so that it cannot be tipped over by the tether;

(6)   Tether a domesticated animal in an open area where it can be teased by persons or that does not provide it with protection from attack by other animals;

(7)   Tether a domesticated animal in an area where bare earth is present, and no steps have been taken to prevent the surface from becoming wet and muddy in the event of precipitation; or

(8)   Tether a domesticated animal less than four months of age;

(9)   Tether more than one domesticated animal to a single tether;

(10)   Tether a domesticated animal to a stationary object that would allow it to come within five feet of any property line; or

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

(F)   A Police Officer, or an Animal Control Officer, or his or her designee, may, in his or her discretion, order more restrictive tethering if it is required by circumstances, and if it is not detrimental to the health, safety or welfare of the domesticated animal.