§ 3-7. Restraint of animals.

(a)

Physical restraint. It shall be unlawful for any person owning or having possession, charge, custody or control of any animal, excluding cats, to keep such animal on his own premises or off the premises, unless such animal is under sufficient physical restraint, to controls the animal, or within a vehicle or adequately contained by a fence on the premises or other secure enclosure. If the physical restraint used is a leash requiring a person to control the animal, the person using such restraint must be of sufficient age and physical size or ability to reasonably restrain the animal. If the secure enclosure is an invisible fence system, then all components of the system must be in working order and in proper place. Additionally, there must be a visible, permanent sign on the premises stating that there is an invisible fence.

(b)

Tethering. Dogs may be tethered to a stationary object only if all of the following conditions (1)—(9) are met:

(1)

A tether shall be equipped with a swivel on both ends.

(2)

A tether shall be a minimum of ten (10) feet in length and shall be made of either metal chain or coated steel cable. Rope, bridles, belts, or cords may not be used as a device to secure an animal.

(3)

Tethers shall be attached to a buckle-type collar or harness and under no circumstances shall the tether itself be placed directly around a dog's neck. Tethers shall not be used in conjunction with training collars such as choke or pinch-style collars. The harness or collar must be made of a material that prevents choking and shall be monitored regularly so as to assure proper fit, prevent discomfort or injury.

(4)

The weight of the tether shall not exceed ten (10) percent of the total body weight of the dog but shall be of sufficient strength to prevent breakage.

(5)

The tether by design and placement shall be maintained to allow the dog a reasonable and unobstructed range of motion without the possibility of entanglement, strangulation or other injury. The tether shall not be attached at point or location that would allow the animal to wrap the tether around a post, tree or debris or extend the tether over a fence, ledge, porch, pool or other object or edge in such manner that could result in the strangulation of or injury to the animal. The tether shall allow the dog access to adequate food, water and shelter.

(6)

A dog must be four (4) months of age or older to be tethered.

(7)

Only one dog shall be attached to a single tether.

(8)

Pulley systems, running lines and trolley systems may be used m conjunction with a tether.

(9)

Pulley systems, running lines or trolley systems shall be at least ten (10) feet in length and no more than seven (7) feet above the ground.

a.

The line of the pulley system, running line or trolley system to which the tether is attached shall be made of coated steel cable.

b.

No tether shall be affixed to a stationary object which would allow a dog to come within five (5) feet of any property line.

(10)

An animal control officer may in his/her discretion order a more restrictive tethering requirement if circumstances require and it is not detrimental to the health, safety or welfare of a dog.

(11)

Exemptions. Citizens residing in townhomes, apartments, condos or similar multi-family housing units with lot sizes insufficient to meet the length and property line requirements specified in subsections (2), (8) and (9) above, may only tether dogs for temporary exercise and relief.

(c)

Adult with animal on premises. If a responsible adult is physically outdoors, and immediately adjacent to the animal, on the land where the owner of the animal resides, and the animal is under the person's direct control and is obedient to that person's commands, this section shall not apply during the duration of the time the animal is in the company and under the control of that adult and the animal is on the premises. An adult is defined as a person eighteen (18) years of age or older.

(d)

Public parks. It shall be unlawful for any person owning or having possession, charge, custody, or control of any dog to take the dog into or allow the dog to enter any public park without being at all times under the restraint of a leash, except while in designated off-leash areas, in accordance with the rules and regulations pe1iaining to such off-leash areas. This subsection shall not apply to the following:

(1)

Parks that have been designated as leash-free parks by the governmental agency responsible for the park.

(2)

Guide and hearing-aid dogs that are in the company of blind or deaf persons or being trained for such purposes.

(3)

Dogs employed or hired by law enforcement agencies or by the governmental agency responsible for the park to perform a governmental purpose within the park.

(Ord. No. 2014-25 , § 1, 7-28-14; Ord. No. 2017-20 , § 1, 5-8-17)

Note— See editor's note, § 3-5.