(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 or her 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 the following conditions are met:
(1) The tether by design and placement shall allow the dog a reasonable and unobstructed range of motion without the possibility of entanglement, strangulation or other injury. The tether shall allow the dog access to adequate food, water and shelter;
(2) A dog must be four months of age or older to be tethered;
(3) Only one dog shall be attached to a single tether;
(4) Pulley systems, running lines, and trolley systems may be used in conjunction with a tether;
(5) An animal control officer may in his or 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.
(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 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 pertaining 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.
(Adopted
1-4-2022
)