Tethering/Chaining
Nassau County, New York
§3. Prohibitions.
a. It shall be unlawful for any person to tether, leash, fasten, secure, restrain, chain or tie an animal to any stationary object outdoors or cause such animal to be restrained, in a manner that:
1) Endangers the animal’s health, safety or well-being;
2) Restricts the animal’s access to suitable and sufficient food and water;
3) Confines the animal outdoors when:
i. The temperature is below 32 degrees Fahrenheit;
ii. The temperature is above 90 degrees Fahrenheit; or
iii. The National Weather Service has issued a heat or wind chill advisory, watch or warning.
4) Does not provide such animal with shelter appropriate to its breed, physical condition, and the climate as defined by Section 353-b of the New York State Agriculture and Markets Law; or
5) Unreasonably restricts the movement of such animal by preventing it from urinating or defecating in a separate area removed from the area where it must eat, drink or lie down.
b. Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection (a) of this section, no person shall tether, leash, fasten, secure, restrain, chain or tie an animal to any object with a device that:
1) Is a choke collar or pinch collar, or a similar collar that restrains the animal in such a manner this it impairs the flow of oxygen or blood to the animal which may cause choking or causes substantial discomfort to the animal;
2) Is embedded, partially embedded or may become embedded in such animal’s skin;
3) Has weights attached or contains links that are more than ¼ inch thick;
4) Weighs more than 10% of the animal’s total body weight, not to exceed 25 pounds for any animal;
5) Is less than 10 feet in length;
6) Because of its design or placement is likely to become entangled;
7) Is long enough to allow such animal to move outside of its owner’s property;
8) Would allow the restrained animal to move over an object or edge that that could result in the strangulation of or injury to such animal.
c. No person shall tether, leash, fasten, secure, restrain, chain or tie an animal to any stationary object outdoors for more than 1 hour in any 12-hour period.