November 4, 2015
Dogs who are unaltered, sick, or injured may not be tethered. Dogs may not be tethered between sunset and sunrise, during extreme weather, or for longer than seven consecutive hours in a 24-hour period.
§ 33-15.1. Failure to provide proper care; tethering.
B. Tethering of dogs.
(1) Definition. “Tether” means to fasten an animal by any device (such as a rope or chain) so that it can range only within a set radius.
(2) It is unlawful to chain or tether unaltered animals (dogs or cats that are unspayed or unneutered) in any manner and/or at any time within the Township.
(3) Altered animals (dogs or cats that have been spayed or neutered) may be tethered only under the following circumstances:
(a) Tethers must allow the animal access to shelter, food and water and can be used only in an area where it will not be tangled around objects.
(b) If there are multiple dogs, each dog shall be tethered separately and in such a manner that the tethers shall not become entangled with each other.
(c) Tethers must be at least fifteen (15) feet in length, have an operative swivel on both ends, weigh no more than 1/8 of the dog’s weight and be attached to a properly fitting buckle type collar or body harness made of nylon or leather.
(d) Tethers must be free of attached weights and if links are utilized, they must not be over one-quarter (1/4) inch thick.
(e) The collar used for tethering may not be a choke chain collar, slip collar or prong collar.
(f) The tether must restrain the dog within the bounds of the owner’s or custodian’s property.
(g) The area in which the animal is tethered must be kept free of insect infestation, such as ant hills, wasp nests, fleas, ticks and maggot infestations.
(h) The tether cannot inhibit the movement of the animal’s limbs or cause injury, harm, entanglement or strangulation.
(i) Dogs may be tethered for no more than seven (7) consecutive hours in any twenty-four-hour period of time and never between sunset and sunrise.
(j) No dog may be tethered at a vacant structure or premises for any purpose when it is not monitored by a competent adult who is present at the property for the duration of the tethering.
(k) No dog that is sick or injured shall be tethered.
(l) No dog may be tethered outdoors during National Weather Service issued Alerts or Storm Warnings.
