Mineola, Texas

Sec. 6-12. – Restraint requirements for dogs.
(a) General prohibition on tethering. It is unlawful for a person to restrain a dog with a chain or tether unless the person is holding the chain or tether.
(b) Affirmative defenses. It is an affirmative defense to a violation of subsection (a) that the restraint:
(1) Is required to protect the safety or welfare of a person or the dog, if the dog’s owner, or person who otherwise has control over the dog, remains with the dog throughout the period of restraint; or
(2) Occurs on the owner’s premises:
a. While the dog is within the owner’s, or person who otherwise has control over the dog, direct physical control; and
b. While the dog is prevented from being within 15 feet from the edge of any public street or sidewalk.
(c) Exceptions. The prohibition of subsection (a) does not apply to a temporary restraint during; a lawful animal event, veterinary treatment, grooming, training or law enforcement activity.
(d) Restraint specifications. The affirmative defenses provided in subsection (b) and exceptions in subsection (c) do not apply unless the restraint meets the following specifications:
(1) The chain, leash, cord or tether is not placed directly around the dog’s neck and is attached to a properly fitting collar or harness worn by the dog;
(2) The chain, leash, cord or tether, by design and placement, is unlikely to become entangled; and
(3) The dog is restrained in a manner that permits access to necessary shelter and water.
(e) Hand-held leashes. This section does not prohibit a person from walking a dog with a hand-held leash.
(f) Dogs running at large strictly prohibited. Nothing in this section authorizes an owner to allow a dog to run at large or to fail to provide appropriate restraint or enclosure as required by section 6-6 of this chapter.