Cedar Springs, Michigan

Sec. 6-4. – Tethering animals.

(a) No person shall tether, fasten, chain, tie, or restrain an animal, or cause any animal to be tethered, fastened, chained, tied, or restrained to a doghouse, tree, fence, or any other stationary or immovable object with the intent that the tethering will be the animal’s primary means of permanent containment.

(b) No animal shall be tethered for longer than nine hours per 24-hour period.

(c) Any tethered animal shall have convenient access to a sheltered area and access to food and clean water.

(d) Any tether used shall:

(1) 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 and be at least ten feet in length minimum;

(2) Terminate at both ends with a swivel;

(3) Not weigh more than one-eighth of the animal’s weight;

(4) Not use chain links larger than one-quarter of an inch thick;

(5) Be free of tangles; and set up to avoid injury, entanglement or strangulation with any object;

(6) Be connected to the animal by a properly fitted, buckle-type collar or body harness of a size appropriate for the animal;

(7) Not be connected by means of a choke-type, pinch-type or prong type collar and the collar or harness shall not be made primarily of metal and shall not cause the animal injury.

(e) The animal shall not be outside tethered during a period of extreme weather, including, but not limited to, extreme heat or freezing temperatures, thunderstorms, tornadoes or flooding.

(f) No more than one animal at a time may be attached to the same tether.

(g) While tethered, the animal is to be monitored periodically.