Sedgwick County, Kansas

Sec. 5-197. – Tethering of animals.

(a) It is unlawful for any person to:

(1) Continuously tether an animal for more than one (1) continuous hour, except that tethering of the same animal may resume after a hiatus of three (3) continuous hours. An animal may not be tethered for a total time period exceeding three (3) hours within any twenty-four-hour period.

(2) Attach chains or other tether restraint implements directly to an animal without the proper use of a collar, harness, or other device designed for that purpose and made from a material that prevents injury to the animal.

(3) Tether an animal in any manner that is not consistent with the tethering requirements included within subsection (b) of this section.

(b) When an animal is tethered, the following requirements shall apply:

(1) A chain, leash, rope, lead or other similar apparatus shall be at least ten (10) feet in length;

(2) A chain, leash, rope, collaring device, lead, or any assembly or attachments thereto used to tether an animal shall not weigh more than one-eighth (⅛) of the animal’s body weight, or due to weight, inhibit the free movement of the animal within the tethered area;

(3) Animals shall be tethered in such a manner as to prevent injury, strangulation, or entanglement on fences, trees, or other manmade or natural obstacles;

(4) An animal shall be tethered so that the animal has access to shelter from the weather conditions, which includes:

a. Access to shade or proper shelter when sunlight and heat are likely to cause overheating per the heat index chart; and

b. Insulation and protection against cold and dampness when the atmospheric temperature falls below forty (40) degrees Fahrenheit;

(5) An animal’s water supply shall be secured so that it cannot be tipped over by the tether;

(6) An animal shall be tethered in an area where it cannot readily be teased by persons and has reasonable protection from attacks by other animals;

(7) If an animal is tethered in an area where bare earth is present, reasonable steps must have been taken to prevent the surface from becoming wet and muddy in the event of precipitation;

(8) Any tethering of an animal with an obvious medical condition shall occur in a way that does not aggravate or further degrade the medical condition.

(a) Exception. The tethering of livestock for purposes of loading, training and/or transport is not unlawful.

(b) Violation. Any person who violates this section shall be subject to a class H violation.