Muscatine, Iowa

6-8-7 Animal Care
H. Tethering.
1. No person shall tether an animal as defined in this Chapter under any of the following conditions:
a) A tether that is less than ten feet (10’) in length and more than fifty (50’) feet;
b) A tether that does not have swivels on both ends as to prevent twisting and tangling;
c) A tether that contains chain links more than one-quarter of an inch thick or that has weights attached;
d) A tether that exceeds one-eighth (1/8) of the dog’s weight; or
e) With a collar made of metal or chain, excluding the buckle, or using a collar, even if made of cloth, designed to continue to tighten, such as a slip lead or noose, when pulled tightly, unless such collar is a limited-slip or no-slip collar.
No person shall allow an animal to be tethered and unattended continuously for more than four (4) hours in any given 24-hour period.

2. No person shall allow an animal to have access to a public sidewalk or street while tethered.
3. No person shall allow an animal to be tethered to a utility pole, parking meter, building, structure, fence, sign, tree, bush, bench, newspaper or advertising rack or other object on public property.
4. No person shall allow an animal to be tethered in extreme weather or in an unsafe location. An unsafe location includes, but is not limited to, near a fence whereby the animal could asphyxiate itself if it jumped over the fence or on a deck whereby the animal could asphyxiate itself if it jumped off of the deck.
No person shall allow an animal to be tethered in a manner that allows it to become entangled with another tethered animal.