PETA Pushes for Delaware Law Requiring Three Daily Dog Walks: Will State Save Dogs Having to Cross Their Paws and Wait for Relief?

For Immediate Release:
December 1, 2025

Contact:
Sara Groves 202-483-7382

In time for Delaware Day (December 7), PETA sent a fetching proposal today to state legislators—including Senate Majority Leader Bryan Townsend—urging them to make Delaware the first state in the country to require that dogs get a minimum of three walks per day, with one of those walks being at least one hour long. As PETA points out, regular walks not only provide dogs with necessary “bathroom breaks,” as their bladders aren’t made of steel, but also help dogs maintain a healthy weight, reduce their risk of illness, and offer the mental stimulation needed to prevent depression, boredom and anxiety.

“For most dogs, a walk is a real relief—pun intended—a chance to sniff the neighborhood news with their sensitive snouts and to see things other than four walls, and allowing them that at least three times a day isn’t asking much,” says PETA Founder Ingrid Newkirk. “PETA is asking the first state to ratify the Constitution to lead the nation in passing respectful legislation for dogs, who require mental stimulation, physical exercise, and bathroom breaks, just as their guardians do.”

As PETA shares in this comedic short—starring White Lotus director Mike White as a dog and Only Murders in the Building actor Molly Shannon as his distracted guardian—a dog’s walk is their time. That’s why PETA recommends that guardians allow their dogs to choose the pace and route of walks as much as possible, let them stop and sniff to their heart’s content, and never rush them or yank on the leash.

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way”—points out that Every Animal Is Someone and offers free Empathy Kits for people who need a lesson in kindness. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow PETA on X, Facebook, or Instagram.

PETA’s letter to Townsend follows.

December 1, 2025

The Honorable Bryan Townsend

Senate Majority Leader

Delaware State Legislature

Dear Senator Townsend:

I’m writing on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals’ (PETA) more than 21,000 members in Delaware, with a request ahead of Delaware Day. Since Delaware led the pack as “The First State” and has set pawsitive examples by naming the “rescue dog” its official state dog and recently establishing an animal abuse offender list, we respectfully ask that you continue to make kind voters happy and get more tails wagging by becoming the first state to pass legislation requiring that dogs receive a minimum of three walks per day, with one walk being at least an hour long. Please allow me to explain.

Reason number one and number two: number one and number two. Like humans, dogs need to empty their bladders and bowels regularly to avoid discomfort and health complications. Holding urine can lead to complications like urinary tract infections and kidney stones, and in extreme cases, it can lead to the bladder bursting—a life-threatening emergency. Healthy adult dogs need to urinate at least three to five times a day, while puppies, smaller dogs, and older dogs require more frequent opportunities. Imagine trying to “hold it” all day, as some dogs are being forced to do!

Regular walks are also essential for dogs’ physical and mental health. Walks provide necessary exercise that helps dogs maintain healthy joints and body weight, thereby decreasing their risk of developing issues such as heart disease and diabetes. While backyard play is pawsome, daily walks ensure that dogs are exposed to a variety of enriching sights, sounds, and smells. The absence of quality walks can lead to boredom, anxiety, depression, and even aggression.

We hope you’ll agree it’s time to run with our suggestion and become the first state to guarantee a fundamental right of three walks per day for Delaware’s dogs. You’d be in good company—in Turin, Italy, for example, guardians face fines of up to €500 (about $579) if they fail to walk their dogs three times a day. Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing some good news from you.

Very truly yours,

Ingrid Newkirk

Founder

cc:       David P. Sokola, President Pro Tempore

Kerri Evelyn Harris, House Majority Leader

Melissa Minor-Brown, Speaker of the House