Tethering dogs.

2015
STATE OF WYOMING
15LSO-0290
Numbered
2.1

SENATE FILE

NO.
SF0007

Tethering dogs.

Sponsored by:
Senator(s) Geis

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to crimes and offenses; creating a new provision relating to the unlawful tethering of dogs; provides that certain requirements must be met in order for an owner to lawfully tether a dog; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1
.

W.S. 6
‑
3
‑
203 by creating a new subsection (q) is amended to read:

6
‑
3
‑
203
.

Cruelty to animals; penalties; limitation on manner of destruction.

(q)

No person shall tether a dog while the dog is outdoors, or within any structure that is not the dog
owner's home, except when all of the following conditions are met:

(i)

The dog is in visual range of a responsible party;

(ii)

The tether is
connected to the dog by a well
‑
fitted, buckle
‑
type collar or a body harness made of nylon or leather, not less than one (1) inch in width;

(iii)

The tether has the following properties:

(A)

The tether
length shall be
at least five (5) times the length of the dog's body, as measured from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail
or
shall
be

at least
ten (10) feet in length
, whichever is greater
;

(B)

The
t
ether
terminates at both ends with a swivel
and
does not weigh more than ten

percent
(10
%
) of the dog's weight
.

(iv)

The dog is tethered in such a manner as to prevent injury, strangulation or entanglement;

(v)

The tether shall confine the dog to the owner's property
;

(vi)

The dog is not outside during a period of extreme weather, including, without limitation, extreme heat or
freezing or
near
‑
freezing temperatures, thunderstorms
or
tornadoes;

(vii)

The dog has access to water, shelter and dry ground;

(viii)

The dog is at least six (6) months of age;

(ix)

The dog is not sick or injured;

(x)

Pulley
s
, running line
s
or trolley systems are at least fifteen (15) feet in length and are less than seven (7)
feet above the ground;

(xi)

If there are multiple dogs, each dog is tethered separately;
and

(xi
i
)

The dog is not tethered more than ten (10) hours in a twenty
‑
four (24) hour period.

Section
2
.

This
act is effective July 1,
2015
.

(END)

1
SF0007