• In California
    California Residents: UPDATE 9/27/06: The Bill Passed!

    Governor Schwarzenegger Signs Legislation to Outlaw Inhumane Dog Tethering

    Governor Schwarzenegger announced the signing of SB 1578 by Senator Alan Lowenthal (D-Long Beach) that would prohibit dog owners from the cruel practice of tethering their pets to stationary objects for more than three hours.

    SB 1578 outlaws the tethering of a dog for more than three hours. Tethering a dog will result in an infraction or misdemeanor, depending on the offense, punishable by a fine not to exceed $1,000 per dog and/or up to six months in a county jail.


    Texas and Maryland have passed laws about chaining dogs outside

    States that are working on laws are: (from what I could find on the web)
    Pennsylvania
    maine
    New Jersey
    New York
    Nevada
    North Carolina
    Rhode Island
    South Carolina

    I am sure there are others…. and it is a good thing...

    However that said, not much better sticking a dog in the backyard either....


  • My dogs are spoiled rotten, but know they are still dogs and I'm still the boss. I could never in a million years imagine leaving mine outside at all times. I wish we had a backyard we could let them run around in. I know they would love it! But I could just not imagine a world in which my dogs weren't in my house, especially when the weather isn't nice. I don't understand people who tie their dogs to a stake & leave them to live their lives out like that!!! How unfair if they never ever get to chase a squirrel or go to a dog park or the pet store or go hiking. I just don't get it.


  • My b's have a nice deck and doggie dog outside to the fenced yard where the birds and squirrels come to eat.
    BUT 90% of the time, they want to be with me.
    I think, in an ideal world, that is here all dogs want to be, with their humans, when they are home.


  • If it's a Law in Texas it sure isn't being enforced around here 😞


  • Here it is. Print it out and use it to your advantage when you call the local authorities…

    http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/80R/billtext/html/HB01411F.htm


  • I will admit that when I was a kid our dog was chained outside. But honestly, he didn't like it in the house, LOL. If he was brought in, he'd sit by the door trying to get back out. We couldn't have fences where we lived, so he had to be chained out. He could crawl under our porch for shelter and never would use the dog houses we got for him.

    So.. while I HATE to see dogs chained out, I do always try to reserve judgment as long as there is shelter because I remember ol' Pokey very well. He HATED being indoors, even if it was stormy out, he preferred it outside.
    Believe me, my sisters and I tried and tried to get him to be our house-dog, LOL.


  • Well, some husky breeds do like the outside, but with most dogs, IMO they need to be in the house, with their people.
    In the old days, when I was a kid, we always let the bitches have one "litter" because it was thought to be best for them.
    Nope, that's old style thinking…
    BUT in many areas of this country, its still the norm.
    The issue with a lot of chained dogs, is not only are they not properly socialized, but they can't get away from another dog or child who is harming them...that makes them likely to see someone or something that has caused them harm and react before it happens again.
    So, you have the nice kid who gets badly bitten by a dog who was bothered by others.
    All this was something I have learned going to damaged dog classes.


  • I want to say that, from a purely selfish point of view, that people that leave their dogs tied outside make it harder for those of us that walk our dogs. There is a house down the street with a pom that is always tied outside, and everytime Jack and I walk by, the dog goes nuts barking and jumping around, and i have a hard time keeping Jack focused.

    Me personally, Jack has pulled up the stake that his tie out is attached to more than once while I was outside (once while I was in my jammies…you should have seen me running down the street in my slippers, but I digress) so I won't leave him out there alone. Even on a nice quiet street like ours, there is too much at stake....pardon the pun...


  • No wonder you laugh your self senseless when Ceasar Millan is on TV every time one of these dogowners opens their mouth when asked if they go on walks with their dog´s .The answere is A) Too difficult 😎 Isn´t the back yard enough??? C) Twice a week or 15 min a day.I don´t know if people are ignorant or plain lazy over there.
    Or do we just have different views/culture in dogkeeping ???


  • Move to Georgia mountains or the south if you want to see ignorance! So many pets are outside, chained, or living in small confined areas in the small towns. Weather in the winter is very cold, but the dogs stay outside. Breaks my heart. Also, many pet owners let their dogs run loose as there is no ordiance against it. If the authorities are called, they say, "Shoot it." There is one animal control officer in the entire area and he only responds to 911 emergency calls…if you are lucky. The animal shelters and rescue groups don't have room for more abandoned dogs and cats. Sad. Sad. Sad.


  • I lived down south for 4 yrs. Its really like going back in time re thinking of animals as property.
    Slowly, its coming around, but not quick enough for most of us.
    Sigh.


  • It makes you wonder if there should be a petowners licence as there is a drivers licence??

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