Lauderdale Lakes, Florida

Sec. 10-42. – Tethering of animals.

(a) No animal shall be tethered outdoors unless the owner, caretaker, or other responsible party is located at all times within the area where the animal is located, so as to be able to observe and hear and attend to the animal if necessary.

(b) No person shall tether, fasten, chain, tie, or restrain any animal, or cause any animal to be tethered, fastened, chained, tied, or restrained, to a dog house, tree, fence, or any other stationary object. A tethered animal shall be tethered only on a running line, pulley, trolley system, or spiral stake, whereby the tether is connected to the animal by a buckle-type collar or a body harness constructed of nylon, leather, or similar material specifically designed to be used for such an animal.

(c) Any running line, pulley, or trolley system shall be at least 15 feet in length and no higher than seven feet above the ground. The tether shall be at least five times the length of the animal’s body, as measured from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail; shall terminate at both ends with a swivel; shall not weigh more than one-eighth of the animal’s weight; and shall be maintained free of tangles.

(d) All tethered animals shall be tethered in such a manner as to prevent injury, strangulation, or entanglement and must have adequate protections from the elements, including, but not limited to, extreme temperatures or severe inclement weather. The same shall have convenient access to food, visibly clean water, and shade at all times.

(e) No animal shall be tethered in a location in which the tether would allow such animal to reach a potentially dangerous object or area, including, but not limited to, a window sill, edge of a pool or canal, fence, porch, tree, post, terrace railing, or other object or area that poses a substantial risk of injury or strangulation to such animal if such animal jumps over, goes into, or goes around the object or area.

(f) No animal shall be tethered in an area where it may be approached by and attacked by other animals or people, without the chance to escape to a protected area such as a dog house.

(g) Heavy chains, cords, wires, or any other material not commonly intended to be used as a collar shall not be used as a restraint, a tether, or a substitute for a collar. Choke-type collars or prong/pinch-type collars shall be permitted to be used only while the animal is under a handler’s direct control on a leash.

Any tethering of an animal in violation of this section shall be deemed cruelty to animals pursuant to section 10-11 of this chapter.