Forney, Texas

§ 2.04.004 Restraint of dogs.

(b) An owner shall not leave a dog outside and unattended using a restraint, other than a fence in good repair:

(1) Without adequate shelter;

(2) Without an area that allows the dog to avoid standing water and exposure to excessive animal waste;

(3) Without shade from direct sunlight;

(4) Without potable water; or

(5) During extreme weather conditions, including conditions in which:

(A) The actual or perceived outdoor temperature is below 32 degrees Fahrenheit factoring in windchill;

(B) A heat advisory has been issued by a local or state authority or jurisdiction; or

(C) A hurricane, tropical storm, or tornado warning has been issued for the jurisdiction by the National Weather Service.

(c) An owner may not restrain a dog outside and unattended:

(1) Between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.; or

(2) Within 500 feet of the premises of a school.

(d) An owner may not restrain a dog outside and unattended by use of a restraint that:

(1) Is a chain;

(2) Has weights attached;

(3) Is shorter in length than the greater of:

(A) Five times the length of the dog, as measured from the tip of the dog’s nose to the base of the dog’s tail; or

(B) 10 feet; or

(4) Is attached to a collar or harness not properly fitted.

(e) Person commits an offense if the person knowingly violates this section. The restraint of each dog that is in violation is a separate offense.

(f) An offense under this section is a class C misdemeanor, except that the offense is a class B misdemeanor if the person has previously been convicted under this section.

(g) Exceptions.

This section 2.04.004 does not apply to:

(1) The use of a restraint on a dog in a public camping or recreational area in compliance with the requirements of the public camping or recreational area as defined by a federal, state, or local authority or jurisdiction;

(2) The use of a restraint on a dog while the owner and dog engage in, or actively train for, an activity conducted under a valid license issued by this state provided the activity is associated with the use or presence of a dog;

(3) The use of a restraint on a dog while the owner and dog engage in conduct directly related to the business of shepherding or herding cattle or livestock;

(4) The use of a restraint on a dog while the owner and dog engage in conduct directly related to the business of cultivating agricultural products;

(5) A dog left unattended in an open-air truck bed only for the time reasonably necessary for the owner to complete a temporary task that requires the dog to be left unattended in the truck bed;

(6) A dog taken by the owner, or another person with the owner’s permission, from the owner’s residence or property and restrained by the owner or the person for not longer than the time necessary for the owner to engage in an activity that requires the dog to be temporarily restrained;

(7) A dog restrained while the owner and dog are engaged in, or actively training for, hunting or field trialing; or

(8) A dog walking with a handheld leash.

(h) An owner of a dog may only tether a dog if the dog is in the owner’s immediate possession and accompanied by the owner. In addition, the owner of a tethered dog shall:

(1) Not allow the dog to be tethered in any manner or by any method that allows the dog to become entangled or injured;

(2) Not allow the dog to be tethered or restrained with a chain;

(3) Use a properly fitted harness or collar that is specifically designed for the dog; and

(4) Attach the tethering device to the dog’s harness or collar and not directly to the dog’s neck.