Read the full stored bill text
SECOND REGULAR SESSION
HOUSE BILL NO. 2812
103RD GENERAL ASSEMBL Y
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENT A TIVE DOLL.
6280H.01I JOSEPH ENGLER, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
T o amend chapter 578, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to the of fense of
unlawful dog tethering or chaining, with a penalty provision.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Chapter 578, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be
2 known as section 578.019, to read as follows:
578.019. 1. A person commits the offense of unlawful dog tethering or chaining
2 if the person:
3 (1) Keeps a dog tether ed or chained while the dog is unsupervised by a
4 competent individual physically pr esent on the prop erty with the dog;
5 (2) Keeps a dog tether ed, chained, or otherwise res tricted by a leash, rope, chain,
6 or other similar mechanism with which the dog does not have shelter fr om extr eme
7 natural elements, adequate food, or access to unfr ozen potable water;
8 (3) Keeps a dog tether ed or chained in an area that is unsafe or insanitary or not
9 fr ee fr om obstruction that may cause entanglement or injury;
10 (4) Keeps a dog tethered or chained for at least thirty minutes at a time, over a
11 total of thr ee hours in a twenty-four -hour period; or
12 (5) Inappr opriately tethers or chains a dog with a tether or chain that is not
13 pr oportionate to the size of the dog, that is less than fifteen feet in length, and that is not
14 attached to the dog by a pr operly fitting harness or collar .
15 2. The offense of unlawful dog tethering or chaining is a class B misdemeanor .
16 3. The pr ovisions of this section shall not apply to a person res training a dog:
17 (1) Under the req uir ements of a camping or recr eational area; or
EXPLANA TION — Matter enclosed in bold-faced brackets [thus] in the above bill is not enacted and is
intended to be omitted from the law . Matter in bold-face type in the above bill is proposed language.
18 (2) T emporarily during the act of hunting.
19 4. As used in this section, the following terms mean:
20 (1) "Animal contr ol", the municipal or county animal contr ol agency or other
21 entity res ponsible for enforcing animal-rel ated laws;
22 (2) "T ethering or chaining", the practice of tying, fastening, or res training a dog
23 to a stationary object as a means of keeping the dog under control. The term "tethering
24 or chaining" does not apply to a dog being walked on a leash.
25 5. A law enforcem ent or an animal control officer , if the animal control officer
26 has the authority , may make an arr est for a violation under this section.
27 6. An animal contro l officer may immediately seize a dog if the officer has
28 r easonable grou nds to believe that pr ompt action is req uir ed to protect the health and
29 safety of the dog or others.
✔
HB 2812 2