Sarasota adopts anti dog-tethering law

The county has adopted an ordinance that prevents a dog or other animal from being tied up outside, or tethered, under certain circumstances.

The new law prohibits owners from tethering their animals unless:

• The animal is in the owner’s sight.
• The animal is not outside during extreme heat, cold or storms.
• The animal has access to food and water.
• The animal is at least 6 months old.
• The tether is connected to the animal by a leather or nylon collar or body harness.
• The tether is five times the animal’s body length.
• The tether does not weigh more than one-eighth of the animal’s weight.
• The tether is free of tangles.

This new law comes at the urging of a group called Dogs Deserve Better, which explained to county officials that dogs become more territorial, aggressive and dangerous when they are constantly chained outside with little human interaction.

Robin Roy can be contacted at [email protected].