Eufaula, Alabama

Sec. 14-82A. – Tethering and chaining.

(a) Dogs and small animals are prohibited from being tethered or chained to a stationary or fixed point. Dogs and small animals are allowed to be confined by a trolley system, provided the owner is on the premises and certain requirements are met.

(1) No owner, keeper, harborer or maintainer of a dog may tether, fasten, chain or tie a dog to any permanent or temporary structure; any post attached to the ground or to any weight designed to restrict the dog’s freedom of movement to a limited area of space.

(2) Dogs and small animals may be restrained by a trolley system or a tether attached to a pulley on a cable run, provided that the owner is on the premises and the following conditions are met:

a. Only one dog or small animal may be tethered to each cable run.

b. The tether must be attached to a properly fitting collar or harness worn by the dog or small animal, with enough room between the collar and the animal’s throat through which two fingers may fit. Choke collars and pinch collars are strictly prohibited for purposes of tethering a dog or small animal to a cable run. The use of any collar too small for the size and age of the animal, or by any rope, chain or cord directly attached to the animal’s neck is prohibited.

c. There must be a swivel on both ends of the tether to minimize tangling of the tether.

d. The tether and cable run must be of adequate size and strength to effectively restrain the dog or small animal. The size and weight of the tether must not be excessive, as determined by the enforcement officer, considering the age, size and health of the dog. In general, the use of a tether that exceeds 25 percent of the body weight of the dog or small animal is prohibited.

e. The cable run must be at least 15 feet in length and mounted at least four feet and no more than seven feet above ground level.

f. The length of the tether from the cable run to the animal’s collar should allow access to the maximum available exercise area and should allow continuous access to food, water and shelter.

g. In no case shall it be permitted that a dog or small animal be confined so as to be forced to stand, sit or lie in its own excrement or on ground that is not well drained.

h. The trolley system must be of appropriate configuration to confine the dog or small animal to the owner’s property, to prevent the tether from extending over an object or an edge that could result in injury or strangulation of the dog or small animal, and to prevent the tether from becoming entangled with other objects or animals.

i. Dogs and small animals shall not be confined through the use of a trolley system between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.

j. Unsterilized female dogs shall not be tethered attached to a trolley or cable run unless monitored by a competent adult for the duration of such tethering.

k. Dogs and small animals should never be tethered during natural disasters such as floods, fires, tornadoes, blizzards, or other severe weather.