Trenton, Michigan

February 19, 2013

Dogs may not be tethered for more than three hours per day. Dogs may only be tethered when certain conditions are met, such as the tether and collar/harness being of certain materials and the dog having access to shade, food, and water.

Section 14-120 Tethering of Dogs

a) Tethering means the practice of securing a dog to a stationary object by means of a metal chain or coated steel cable for keeping a dog restrained in its movement. Tethering does not mean walking a dog on a leash, or for temporary grooming, or other professional service.
b) It shall be unlawful for a person to:
1) Continuously tether a dog for more than three hours per day;
2) Tether a dog on a tether made of anything but a coated steel cable more than (10) feet in length;
3) Use a tether or any assembly or attachments thereto to tether a dog that shall weigh more than ten percent (10%) of the animal’s body weight, or due to weight, inhibit the free movement of the animal within the area tethered; or
4) Tether a dog on anything except a buckle-type collar or harness, or tethering on a choke chain or around the dog’s neck, or tethered to training collars such as choke or pinch-style collars, or in such a manner as to cause injury, strangulation, or entanglement of the dog on fences, trees, or other man made or natural obstacles; or
5) Tether a dog without access to shade when sunlight is likely to cause overheating, or appropriate shelter to provide insulation and protection against cold and dampness when the atmospheric temperature falls below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, or to tether a dog without securing its food and water supply so that it cannot be tipped over by the tether; or
6) Tether a dog in an open area where it can be teased by persons or an open area that does not provide the dog protection from attack by other animals; or
7) Tether a dog in an area composed entirely of bare earth subject to becoming wet and muddy in the event of precipitation, and without any dry surface area or cover for protection.
8) Tether a dog less than four (4) months of age.
9) Tether more than one dog to a single tether.
10) Tether a dog to a stationary object which would allow a dog to come within five feet of any property line.
11) Tether a dog without a swivel attached and/or equipped on both ends.
c) The animal control officer, or his/her designee, may in his/her discretion temporarily order a more restrictive tethering requirement if circumstances require and it is not detrimental to the health, safety, or welfare of the dog.
d) Penalty. A person found responsible for violating section 14-120 shall be deemed responsible for a municipal civil infraction in the amount of $100 per day. Any person found liable for violating this section three or more times in a one year time span shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.