Southgate, Michigan

July 2, 2014

Dogs may not be tethered for more than three consecutive hours, and tethers must be made of coated steel cable. This ordinance also specifies basic safety requirements for tethering.

Section 615.05 Animal Care

(12) 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 or other similar means 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:

(1) Continuously tether a dog for more than three hours during any twenty-four hour period; or

(2) Tether a dog on a tether made of anything but coated steel cable; or

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

(4) Tether a dog on anything except a buckle type collar or harness. It is unlawful to tether a dog on a choke chain or around the dog’s neck, or tethered to training collars such as choke or pinch type 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; or

(5) Tether a dog without access to shade when sunlight is likely to cause overheating.

(6) Tether a dog and fail to provide appropriate shelter to provide insulation and protection against cold and dampness when the atmospheric temperature falls below 40 degrees Fahrenheit; or

(7) Tether a dog without securing its food and water supply so that it cannot be tipped over by the tether; or

(8) 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; or

(9) 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; or

(10) Tether a dog less than four (4) months of age; or

(11) Tether more than one dog to a single shelter; or

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

(13) Tether a dog without a swivel attachment on both ends; or

(14) Tether a dog on a tether more than 10 feet in length.

(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.