Springfield, Massachusetts

§ 110-8 Animal care standards.

B. A person owning or keeping a dog may confine such dog outside, subject to the restrictions in this section, through the use of any of the following methods:

(1) Inside a pen, if the following conditions are met:

(a) The pen shall have adequate space for exercise, with a dimension of at least 100 square feet; provided, however, that commercial dog kennels with pens intended for the temporary boarding of dogs shall be exempt from this requirement.
(b) The pen is constructed with chain link or other similar material as determined by the Building Inspector, with all sides enclosed.
(c) The minimum height of the fence shall be adequate to successfully confine the dog.
(2) A fully fenced, electronically fenced or otherwise securely enclosed yard, wherein a dog has the ability to run but is unable to leave the enclosed yard; or
(3) A trolley system or a tether attached to a pulley in a cable run, if the following conditions are met:

(a) Only one dog shall be tethered to each cable run;
(b) The tether shall be attached to a properly fitting collar or harness worn by the dog, with enough room to fit two adult fingers between the collar and the dog’s throat; provided, however, that a choke collar or pinch collar shall not be used to tether a dog to a cable run;
(c) There shall be a swivel on at least one end of the tether to minimize tangling of the tether;
(d) The tether and cable run must each be at least 10 feet in length. The cable must be mounted at least four feet but not more than seven feet above ground level;
(e) The length of the tether from the cable run to the dog’s collar or harness shall allow continuous access to clean water and appropriate shelter at all times as described in Subsection C;
(f) The tether system shall be of appropriate configuration to confine the dog to the owner’s property, to prevent the trolley system or tether from extending over an object to an edge that could result in injury to or strangulation of the dog and to prevent the trolley system or tether from becoming tangled with other objects or animals; and
(g) No person shall tether a dog for more than eight out of every 24 hours. No dog under the age of six months shall be tethered outside for any length of time.

C. A person owning or keeping a dog confined outside in accordance with this chapter shall provide the dog with access to clean water and appropriate dog shelter. The dog shelter shall allow the dog to remain dry and protected from the elements and shall be fully enclosed on at least three sides, roofed and have a solid floor and be sufficiently insulated and ventilated to protect the dog from exposure to extreme temperatures. The entrance to the shelter shall be flexible to allow the dog’s entry and exit, and sturdy enough to block entry of weather elements. The shelter shall contain clean bedding and shall be small enough to retain the dog’s body heat and large enough to allow the dog to stand, lie down and turn comfortably. The enclosure shall be structurally sound and in good repair. Suitable drainage shall be provided so that water, ice or waste is not standing in or around the shelter.