A New Bill Has Been Introduced That Will Ban Tethering Pets In Freezing Weather

We have seen some really frigid temperatures lately. Sadly, there have been dogs that have been left outside overnight in many areas.

Just because a dog has a fur coat does not mean they can withstand sub zero temperatures over long periods of time. Some breeds of dog have a higher tolerance for cold than others. In Richmond, VA, the Assistant Attorney General, Michelle Welch, sent a memo to all the animal control officers. She laid out the protocol for how the officers were to respond to any call about an animal tied up outside.

Basically, the person responsible for the dog left outside has the option to bring the dog inside, surrender it, or let the officer have temporary custody. Del. John Bell went a little further and introduced a bill that would make it illegal to have a dog tied up outdoors when the temperatures drop to freezing (32 degrees) or when they go about 85 degrees. Virginia already has two ordinances about tying up dogs outside.

Dogs can’t be tied up between 10 PM and 6AM, and they can’t be tethered for more than three hours. Residents in Portsmouth face a $250 fine if they tie up a dog and leave it unattended (someone needs to be within 35 feet of the dog). Let us hope that Bell’s new ordinance becomes law and that other states or cities around the country enact similar legislation. No dog should freeze to death due to negligence.

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