The Onondaga County Legislature had been considering two proposals that would impact a dog owner’s ability to keep their dog outside.
The AKC Government Relations department urged residents and those who participate in events in Onondaga County to share concerns with Legislator Ryan’s proposal, which would prohibit anyone from tethering a dog outdoors for more than 2 hours when the temperature is lower than 32 degrees or higher than 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Instead, the GR department was asking for residents to support Legislator Jordan’s proposal, which would dictate that dogs be provided with adequate shelter, apparel or other protection from inclement weather appropriate to its breed, physical condition, and the climate. You can read more about the proposals here.
The County Legislature met on Tuesday, April 3, to vote on these proposals, however, neither proposal received enough votes to pass. The AKC GR department considers this a victory, as there are already adequate laws in effect to protect animals from the elements and additional proposals would add onerous laws that may not necessarily protect a dog’s health and wellbeing.
The American Kennel Club would like to thank the Associated Dog Clubs of New York State, the Onondaga Kennel Association, and all local residents who took the time to contact the legislature and attend the hearing to express your comments on these proposals.