Rowlett, Texas

Sec. 6-8. – Animal care guidelines.

(b) Dog tethering. It shall be unlawful for a person to use a chain, rope, tether, leash, cable or other device to attach a dog to a stationary object or trolley system.

(c) Defenses. It shall be a defense to an offense alleged to have been committed under subsection (b) if the tethering of a dog is a temporary restraint that occurs:

(1) During a lawful animal event, veterinary treatment, grooming, training or law enforcement activity;

(2) In order to protect the safety or welfare of a person or the dog and the dog’s owner maintains direct physical control of the dog;

(3) In the direct physical control of an owner in a designated city dog park; or

(4) While on the owner’s premises and:

a. The dog is within the owner’s direct physical control, and

b. The restraint prevents the dog from advancing to within 15 feet of the edge of any public street, sidewalk or other public right-of-way.

(d) Restraint specifications. The defenses provided in subsection (c) do not apply unless the restraint meets the following specifications:

(1) The chain, rope, tether, leash, cable or other device is attached to a properly fitted collar or harness worn by the dog and is not placed directly around the dog’s neck;

(2) The chain, rope, tether, leash, cable, or other device does not exceed one-tenth of the dog’s body weight;

(3) The chain, rope, tether, leash, cable, or other device, by design and placement allows the dog a reasonable and unobstructed range of motion without entanglement; and

(4) The dog is restrained in a manner that provides necessary shelter and clean wholesome water.

(e) Penalties. An offense under this section is a class C misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed $2,000.00. If a person violates this section with respect to more than one dog, the person’s conduct with respect to each dog constitutes a separate offense. An offense under this section is cumulative and not exclusive of any other offense under the law.

(f) Hand-held leashes. This section does not apply to and shall not prohibit a person from walking a dog with a hand-held leash.