Easthampton, Massachusetts

Section 11-18. Prolonged Chaining, Tethering, and Confinement of Dogs
a. Prolonged Chaining or Tethering of Dogs. No person owning or keeping a dog in the City shall chain or tether a dog for longer than 8 continuous hours during any twenty-four hour period. Nothing in this section shall be construed as prohibiting a person from walking a dog on a hand-held leash. It shall be lawful for a responsible party to tether a dog while outdoors when all of the following conditions are met:

1. The dog must be wearing a suitable collar (no pinch collars) when connected to the tether.
2. The tether must be appropriate to the age and size of the dog and be long enough to allow the dog ample movement.
3. The dog is tethered in such a manner as to prevent injury, strangulation, or entanglement.
4. The dog is not outside during a period of extreme weather. Arctic breeds and other dogs with a double-layered coat, bred to live in an arctic climate, may be out in suitable freezing temperatures.
5. The dog is always within reach of drinking water and has access to dry ground.
6. The dog is not sick or injured.
7. If there are multiple dogs, each dog is tethered separately.

b. Permissible Outside Confinement. A person owning or keeping a dog may confine such dog outside for up to 8 continuous hours in a twenty-four hour period when the pen, secure enclosure, or fully fenced-in yard (including a properly maintained electric dog fence) which have adequate space for exercise. A pen or secure enclosure must be appropriate to the age and size of the dog and be constructed with chain link or other similar material as determined by the Animal Control Officer.

c. Access to Water and Shelter. Any person owning or keeping a dog confined outside in accordance with Paragraph (a) or (b) of this section must provide the dog with access to water and appropriate shelter. Dog shelters must be structurally sound and allow the dog to remain dry and protected from the elements. Such shelter shall be fully enclosed on three sides, roofed, and have a solid floor. The shelter shall be small enough to retain the dog’s body heat and large enough to allow the dog to stand and turn comfortably. Filthy and dirty confinement conditions, which could cause harm to the dog’s physical or emotional health, are prohibited.

d. No Overnight Chaining, Tethering, and Confinement. No person owning or keeping a dog in the City may leave a dog chained, tethered, or confined outside between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.

e. Exceptions to Outdoor Confinement. Exceptions to the above restrictions on outdoor confinement may be made for sporting or working dogs.

f. Extreme/Hazardous Weather Conditions. Law Enforcement Officials shall determine if weather conditions are hazardous to a particular dog or dogs chained, tethered or confined outside in accordance with Paragraphs (a) or (b) of this section. Upon such determination, the official shall order the responsible party to provide the dog with immediate access to an approved area.

g. Violations and Penalties. A violation of any provision of this ordinance shall be punishable by a written warning for the first offense; offenders must correct the violation within ten (10) calendar days. Failure to satisfy the conditions of the first violation shall immediately subject the violator to a second violation. The second violation shall be punishable by a fine of fifty dollars ($50.00) and must meet remediation requirements set forth by the City no later than ten (10) calendar days after the violation. If any owner or keeper of a dog in the City violates this section three (3) times the violator will be subject to a fine of two-hundred dollars ($200.00), impoundment of the dog in the City’s shelter at the owner/guardian’s expense pending compliance with the ordinance and potential loss of ownership of the dog.