According to Pennsylvania Sen. Richard Alloway, tethering dogs is cruel and inhumane.
Tethering is defined as fastening a dog to a stationary object or stake in order to keep the animal under control. It does not refer to a dog being walked on a leash.
“Dogs are highly social pack animals who thrive on human and animal interaction and companionship,” he wrote in a legislative note. “To a dog, being constantly tethered is like solitary confinement is to a human being. An otherwise friendly dog, when kept tethered becomes unhappy, anxious, and often aggressive and develops neurotic behaviors such as incessant barking, digging and chewing.”
Alloway noted over 120 cities, counties and towns in over 30 states have legislation prohibiting or restricting the perpetual tethering of dogs and more are quickly following suit. California and Texas have state-wide laws restricting the tethering of dogs for no more than three hours a day, he wrote. Many other states currently have anti-tethering bills pending in their legislature.
Legislation introduced in the Pennsylvania General Assembly would provide for a summary offense if a person violates tethering provisions, second and subsequent offenses shall be a misdemeanor of the third degree.
Should Pennsylvania have an anti-tethering dog law?
