Atchison, Kansas

Sec. 7-23. – Tethering of dogs.

For purposes of this article, tethering is defined as the restraint of a dog using a chain, rope, or any other similar device when hooked to an inanimate object. It shall be unlawful for any person to tether a dog except in circumstances where the following requirements are met:

(1) It shall be unlawful for any person to tether a dog between the hours of 7:00 PM and 5:00 AM except for fifteen-minute (15) intervals when a responsible person is outside with the dog.

(2) The length of the tether shall not be less than ten (10) feet, the weight of the tether shall not be more than one-eighth (⅛) of the dog’s body weight, and all tethers shall have swivels on both ends.

(3) Dogs shall not be tethered when temperatures are below thirty-two (32) degrees or above eighty-five (85) degrees, unless adequate shelter or shade is present.

(4) The radius of a tethered dog shall be free of garbage and other debris, and fecal matter shall be removed daily.

(5) Shelter, shade, and water shall be accessible to a tethered dog.

(6) Puppies less than six (6) months of age shall not be tethered.

(7) The length of a tether shall not allow a dog to be closer than fifteen (15) feet to the edge of any public road or sidewalk.

(8) A sick or injured dog shall not be tethered.

If multiple dogs are present they must be tethered separately and at a sufficient distance from each other to prevent tangling.