Lakewood, Ohio

505.09 CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.

(b) No person shall tether an animal in a way that causes the animal to:

(1) Suffer from a condition that is known, by that person, to be exacerbated by tethering;

(2) Become entangled in a manner that is harmful to the animal or become entangled with other tethered animals;

(3) Be tethered with a lead that (A) is more than one eighth of the animal’s body weight or (B) is a tow chain or a log chain;

(4) Be tethered with a lead fixed onto the ground or a stationary structure or object that measures, when rounded to the nearest whole foot, fewer than 10 feet in length;

(5) Be tethered with an improperly fitting harness or collar; or a pinch, prong, or choke-type collar;

(6) Be tethered with a lead fixed onto the ground or a stationary structure or object in a manner that will allow the animal to move upon the property of another person, a public walkway or a road, or be a menace to or injure another person or animal on a neighboring property, public walkway or road;

(7) Be tethered for more than six (6) hours total in a twenty-four (24) hour period and not more than two (2) consecutive hours with no less than a one (1) hour period between tetherings;

(8) Be tethered between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.;

(9) Be tethered if a heat or cold advisory has been issued by a local or state authority or the National Weather Service;

(10) Be tethered if a severe weather warning has been issued by a local or state authority or the National Weather Service;

(11) Be tethered if the tether is made of a material that is unsuitable for the animal’s size and weight or that causes any unnecessary discomfort to the animal; or

(12) Be tethered if no owner or occupant is present at the premises
As used in this section, “tether” means a rope, chain, cord, dog run or pulley, or similar restraint for holding an animal in place, allowing a radius in which it can move about.

(d)   Whoever violates subsection (b) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree on the first offense, or a misdemeanor of the fourth degree on the second offense or any subsequent offense. Notwithstanding the forego-ing penalties, if an animal becomes sick or injured as a result of a violation of this section, then whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.