The Maryland House Judiciary Committee is scheduled to consider a bill on Thursday, February 19, that would amend the state’s tethering laws and ban dogs from being left tethered outdoors in extreme hot or cold conditions. However, like a Senate bill recently considered, this bill as introduced prohibits any dog from being tethered outside unattended for an hour when the temperature falls below 32 degrees.
Those who reside or participate in outdoor dog events in Maryland are strongly encouraged to contact the committee and express your concerns with how this will impact safe, humane dog events. Scroll down for committee contact information.
Summary:
The AKC strongly believes that no dog should ever be kept in a situation that endangers its health, wellbeing, or safety.
House Bill 153, however, could directly impact field trials, sledding or other winter dog sports, and other winter activities in which dogs can be routinely tethered outside for an hour unattended when the temperature is below 32 degrees. It is also unclear if this would apply if the dog is provided proper protection from the elements.
Many breeds thrive in cold temperatures, and keeping them humanely tethered outside, does not harm the animal. The AKC recommends that this measure be clarified to state instead that a dog should not be left outdoors in conditions where the health and safety of the dog is in immediate danger.
The bill would also prohibit tethering outside for 15 minutes during a hazardous weather warning issued by the National Weather Service, or when the temperature is above 100 degrees.
What You Can Do:
- Attend the House Judiciary Committee hearing and express your concerns with House Bill 153 as introduced and request clarifications. The hearing details are as follows:
Maryland House Judiciary Committee
Thursday, February 19, 2015
1:00 pm
Room 100, House Office Building
Annapolis, Maryland
**If you plan to testify, please note that you must sign the witness register before 12:45 pm. If you wish to provide written testimony, you must submit 35 copies for distribution by noon.
- Contact the bill sponsor and respectfully express your concerns with House Bill 153 as introduced and request clarifications to protect humane tethering:
Delegate Dana Stein (District 11)
Phone: 410-841-3527 or 301-858-3527
Toll-free in MD: 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3527
Contact Online or send email to: dana.stein@house.state.md.us
- Contact the House Judiciary Committee and respectfully express your concerns with House Bill 153 as introduced and request clarifications to protect humane tethering:
Del. Joseph Vallario, Jr., Chair (District 23B)
Phone: 410-841-3488 or 301-858-3488
Toll-free in MD: 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3488
Contact Online or send email to: joseph.vallario@house.state.md.usDel. Kathleen Dumais, Vice Chair (District 15)
Phone: 410-841-3052 or 301-858-3052
Toll-free in MD: 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3052
Contact Online or send email to: kathleen.dumais@house.state.md.usDel. Curt Anderson (District 43)
Phone: 410-841-3291 or 301-858-3291
Toll-free in MD: 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3291
Contact Online or send email to: curt.anderson@house.state.md.usDel. Vanessa Atterbeary (District 13)
Phone: 410-841-3471 or 301-858-3471
Toll-free in MD: 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3471
Contact Online or send email to: Vanessa.Atterbeary@house.state.md.usDel. Will Campos (District 47B)
Phone: 410-841-3340 or 301-858-3340
Toll-free in MD: 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3340
Contact Online or send email to: Will.Campos@house.state.md.usDel. Jill Carter (District 41)
Phone: 410-841-3268 or 301-858-3268
Toll-free in MD: 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3268
Contact Online or send email to: jill.carter@house.state.md.usDel. John W.E. Cluster, Jr. (District 8)
Phone: 410-841-3526 or 301-858-3526
Toll-free in MD: 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3526
Contact Online or send email to: john.cluster@house.state.md.usDel. Frank Conaway, Jr. (District 40)
Phone: 410-841-3189 or 301-858-3189
Toll-free in MD: 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3189
Contact Online or send email to: frank.conaway@house.state.md.usDel. William Folden (District 3B)
Phone: 410-841-3240 or 301-858-3240
Toll-free in MD: 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3240
Contact Online or send email to: William.Folden@house.state.md.usDel. Glen Glass (District 34A)
Phone: 410-841-3280 or 301-858-3280
Toll-free in MD: 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3280
Contact Online or send email to: glen.glass@house.state.md.usDel. Jay Jalisi (District 10)
Phone: 410-841-3358 or 301-858-3358
Toll-free in MD: 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3358
Contact Online or send email to: Jay.Jalisi@house.state.md.usDel. Trent Kittleman (District 9A)
Phone: 410-841-3556 or 301-858-3556
Toll-free in MD: 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3556
Contact Online or send email to: Trent.Kittleman@house.state.md.usDel. Susan McComas (District 34B)
Phone: 410-841-3272 or 301-858-3272
Toll-free in MD: 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3272
Contact Online or send email to: susan.mccomas@house.state.md.usDel. David Moon (District 20)
Phone: 410-841-3474 or 301-858-3474
Toll-free in MD: 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3474
Contact Online or send email to: David.Moon@house.state.md.usDel. Marice Morales (District 19)
Phone: 410-841-3528 or 301-858-3528
Toll-free in MD: 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3528
Contact Online or send email to: Marice.Morales@house.state.md.usDel. Neil Parrott (District 2A)
Phone: 410-841-3636 or 301-858-3636
Toll-free in MD: 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3636
Contact Online or send email to: neil.parrott@house.state.md.usDel. Deborah Rey (District 29B)
Phone: 410-841-3227 or 301-858-3227
Toll-free in MD: 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3227
Contact Online or send email to: Deborah.Rey@house.state.md.usDel. Samuel Rosenberg (District 41)
Phone: 410-841-3297 or 301-858-3297
Toll-free in MD: 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3297
Contact Online or send email to: samuel.rosenberg@house.state.md.usDel. William C. Smith, Jr. (District 20)
Phone: 410-841-3493 or 410-841-3493
Toll-free in MD: 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3493
Contact Online or send email to: Will.Smith@house.state.md.usDel. Charles E. Sydnor III (District 44B)
Phone: 410-841-3802 or 301-858-3802
Toll-free in MD: 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3802
Contact Online or send email to: Charles.Sydnor@house.state.md.usDel. Geraldine Valentino-Smith (District 23A)
Phone: 410-841-3101 or 301-858-3101
Toll-free in MD: 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3101
Contact Online or send email to: geraldine.valentino.smith@house.state.md.usDel. Brett Wilson (District 2B)
Phone: 410-841-3125 or 301-858-3125
Toll-free in MD: 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3125
Contact Online or send email to: brett.wilson@house.state.md.us
The Maryland House Judiciary Committee is scheduled to consider a bill on Thursday, February 19, that would amend…