2019
No dog shall be tethered between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. or during extreme weather conditions.
- Unlawful Restraint of a Dog – Anti-Tethering Law (THSC Section 821.077)
An owner may not leave a dog outside and unattended by use of a restraint that unreasonably limits the dog’s movement:
- Between the hours of 10 pm and 6 am;
- Within 500 feet of the premises of a school; or
- In the case of extreme weather conditions, including conditions in which:
- The actual or effective outdoor temperature is below 32 degrees Fahrenheit;
- A heat advisory has been issued by a local or state authority or jurisdiction; or
- A hurricane, tropical storm, or tornado warning has been issued for the jurisdiction by the National Weather Service.
In this section, a restraint unreasonably limits a dog’s movement if the restraint:
- Uses a collar that is pinch- type, prong-type, or choke-type or that is not properly fitted to the dog;
- Is a length shorter than the greater of:
- Five times the length of the dog, as measured from the tip of the dog’s nose to the base of the dog’s tail; or
- 10 feet;
- Is in an unsafe condition; or
- Causes injury to the dog.
