Tomorrow (Tuesday, May 19), the Assembly Agriculture Committee will consider two bills relating to the tethering of dogs outdoors. Some provisions in these bills are reasonable and protect dogs from being harmed while tethered. However, AKC is concerned about provisions regarding one-size-fits-all temperatures for when dogs may be kept outdoors that do not take into account the needs of various dog breeds, or the functions for which they are trained/acclimated.
New York residents are strongly encouraged to contact the Assembly Agriculture Committee TODAY regarding Assembly Bills 165 and 6145. Scroll down for contact information.
Assembly Bill 165:
Assembly Bill 165 defines the “inhumane tethering” of dogs. It clarifies that tethering does not include walking a dog on a leash or “circumstances where a dog is otherwise accompanied by a person who has custody or control of the dog.”
Under this bill, a dog may not be tethered for more than 4 consecutive hours or 6 total hours in a day. It also states that dogs may not be tethered in “dangerous weather conditions”, defined in part as any weather condition that poses a health or safety risk to the dog. AKC supports this provision. However, it further defines “extreme heat or cold” as 80 degrees Fahrenheit and 35 degrees Fahrenheit. AKC is unclear how this will be enforced for dogs who can tolerate temperatures outside this range, or dogs that require more moderate temperatures.
In addition, the bill would not allow tethering between 10pm and 6am, and AKC is unclear how this would impact events such as night hunts and similar activities.
Livestock guardian dogs, police dogs and service dogs are exempt from the provisions of this bill.
Assembly Bill 6145:
Assembly Bill 6145 modifies current law regarding the tethering of dogs. Current law states that dogs may not be tethered outside in “inclement weather”, meaning those conditions likely to adversely affect the health or safety of the dog. AKC strongly supports this current law. A. 6145 further defines this to include temperatures 32 degrees or below, or 90 degrees or above.
Current law also states that dogs must be provided with shelter if left outdoors. A. 6145 would require continuous access to shelter if a dog is left outside for more than 30 minutes. While the definitions of a proper shelter are reasonable, it is unclear how this would apply to dogs acclimated to temperatures outside the ranges listed above, including working dogs. There are no exemptions mentioned in this bill.
The bill also states that the tether must be at least 3 times the length of the dog, unless the person is in the presence of the dog and can see the dog, or the dog is indoors.
Talking Points:
AKC strongly supports current New York law, which does not allow dogs to be tethered in any condition where health and safety are at risk. In addition, there are many provisions in these bills that are reasonable (ensuring dogs can reach potable water and shade, and that the tether is not so tight as to injure the dog). However, the specific temperatures and time restraints in these bills do not take into account the different breeds of dogs, or the purposes for which they may be kept.
Consider the following resources for talking points when contacting the committee:
- Dogs Outdoors/Tethering Key Issue Page in the AKC Legislative Action Center
- AKC Responsible Policy Video – Arbitrary Temperature Requirements Can Harm Dogs
- AKC Handout: Keeping Dogs Safe in Inclement Weather
What You Can Do:
Both A. 165 and A. 6145 are on the Assembly Agriculture Agenda for tomorrow, Tuesday, May 19. Contact the committee today to express your concerns with the “one size fits all” provisions in these bills:
Below is the contact information for the committee. If you are a constituent, be sure to mention that when contacting their office:
Donna Lupardo, Chair (Dist. 123- Binghamton)
Didi Barrett (Dist. 106- Poughkeepsie)
Ken Blankenbush (Dist. 117- Carthage)
Marianne Buttenschon (Dist. 119- Utica)
Michael S. Cashman (Dist. 115- Plattsburgh)
Brian Cunningham (Dist. 43- Brooklyn)
Michael J. Fitzpatrick (Dist. 8 – Smithtown)
Jodi Giglio (Dist. 2 – Riverhead)
Stephen Hawley (Dist. 139 – Albion)
Paula Elaine Kay (Dist. 100- Monticello)
Dr. Anna R. Kelles (Dist. 125 – Ithaca)
John Lemondes (Dist. 126 – Auburn)
Brian D. Miller (Dist. 122 – New Hartford)
Diana C. Moreno (Dist. 36 – Astoria)
Steven Raga (Dist. 30 – Woodside)
Linda B. Rosenthal (Dist. 67 – Manhattan)
Tommy John Schiavoni (Dist. 1 – Sag Harbor)
Amanda Septimo (Dist. 84 – Bronx)
Al Stripe (Dist. 127 – N. Syracuse)
Chris Tague (Dist. 102 – Catskill)
Jaime R. Williams (Dist. 59 – Brooklyn)
Carrie Woerner (Dist. 113 – Saratoga Springs)
Stefani Zinerman (Dist. 56 – Brooklyn)
AKC Government Relations (AKC GR) will continue to closely monitor this legislation and provide updates as they become available. For questions or more information, contact AKC GR at doglaw@akc.org.