Las Cruces, New Mexico

Sec. 7-13. – Restraint requirements.

(c) Owner’s premises. A person owning or having care, custody, or control over an animal on his or her premises shall restrain the animal either by a secure enclosure or by immediate control.

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(2) A person owning or having care, custody, or control over a dog on his or her premises may use a tether as a temporary means of restraint only.

a. A person shall not tether a dog to a stationary object for more than two hours in any 12-hour period.

b. A person shall not tether a dog to a running line, pulley, or trolley system for more than four hours in any 12-hour period.

c. A person shall not tether a dog in an unenclosed area where people or other animals are able to wander into the proximity of the tethered dog.

d. A tether used to restrain a dog shall be at least 12 feet in length. Such tether shall not enable the animal to reach beyond the owner’s property.

e. A tether used to restrain a dog shall be affixed to a properly fitting collar or harness worn by the dog. A person shall not wrap a chain or tether directly around the neck or other body part of a dog.

f. A tether used to restrain a dog shall not weigh more than one-eighth of the animal’s body weight. The tether weight shall include any additional objects attached to the dog or tether, such as locks or fasteners.

g. A tether used to restrain a dog shall have working swivels on both ends and shall be fastened so that the animal may sit, walk, and lie down using natural motions. Such tether shall be unobstructed by objects that may cause the tether or animal to become entangled or strangled.

h. In all cases, a tethered dog must be able to reach a container with water in it at all times.