Deltona, Florida

Sec. 14-8. – Cruelty; tethering.

(b) No person shall tether a dog, cat, or other animal on private property except as allowed in accordance with the following conditions:

(1) The tether must be made of a material, thickness, size, strength, and weight that is reasonable to safely secure the dog, cat, or other animal without placing or causing excessive strain or stress on the animal.

(2) Each end of the tether must have affixed to it a closed-end spring clip, carabiner clip, coupling, or other type of closed-end clip that is securely affixed to a swivel or pivot, all the components of which are made of high-strength metal, steel or composite material, and that allows the ends of the tether to freely rotate 360 degrees.

Use of a trolley cable or trolley system requires that the primary usable trolley runner must be suspended at least three feet above the animal’s head, with at least ten feet in length between two pulley stop points. The secondary line attached to the animal shall have a rolling trolley freely movable at a distance of at least ten feet on the primary trolley line with a spring/shock absorber attachment and swivel at both ends. The trolley system shall allow the animal unrestricted body movement and utilization of the entire area designated by the trolley system, with a minimum of five feet lateral movement for the animal on each side of the primary trolley line, as measured on the ground. The trolley system must allow the animal free access to food, water and shelter. The trolley system must be of appropriate configuration to prevent escape of the animal and confine the animal to the owner’s property. The primary trolley line shall be used to restrain only one animal at a time.

(3) The tether shall be at least five feet in length and no more than ten feet in length.

(4) The tether shall be no higher in elevation than the height of the tethered animal.

(5) One end of the tether must be securely attached to a commercially designed pet tie-out stake, commonly referred to as a spiral ground anchor or ground corkscrew, or some other commercial or noncommercial device that allows a tethered dog, cat or other animal to freely walk or move about the tie-out stake or device in a circular manner. The other end of the tether must be securely attached to the animal’s collar or harness.

(6) The pet tie-out stake or device and tether must be placed in a location that prevents the dog, cat, or other animal from becoming entangled with objects or other tethered animals and must not be placed in a location that prevents the tethered animal from accessing water, dry ground, shade, or shelter.

(7) The dog, cat, or other animal must always be provided clean water, dry ground, and shelter for protection from the sun, hot and cold weather, rain, and other inclement weather events.

(8) The dog, cat, or other animal shall not be tethered in extreme weather conditions, which shall be defined as being hot weather in excess of 80 degrees, cold weather lower than 60 degrees, thunderstorms, lightening, hail, hurricanes, tornados, tropical storms, flood waters, winds in excess of 20 miles per hour, and other natural and manmade calamities.

(9) The dog, cat, or other animal must always be accompanied while outside by, and be within visual range of, its owner or other person who is responsible for supervising the tethered animal, except that a tethered animal may be left unattended for short periods of time not to exceed 30 minutes in duration.

(10) In no event shall the owner or other person who is responsible for supervising the animal leave the property while the dog, cat, or other animal is tethered outside.

(11) A dog, cat, or other animal may never be tethered on unoccupied, vacant, or abandoned property.

(12) A dog, cat, or other animal may never be tethered or left unattended inside any structure that is unsafe, dilapidated, or has been abandoned.

(13) The dog, cat, or other animal must be at least six months of age; and must not be sick, injured, or afflicted with contagious disease.

(14) If multiple dogs, cats, or other animals are to be tethered, each animal must be tethered separately from the others, and tethered in a location that prevents them from becoming entangled with the other tethered animals.

(15) Tethering shall be prohibited between the hours of dusk and dawn.

(16) Tethering on public property shall always be prohibited.