Being a responsible pet owner means providing all the needs, love and care to your furry canine. Doing so requires ensuring its safety in and around the home. Some owners restrain Dogs outdoors for extensive periods of time, tethering the animal. Often the leashed dog has no protection from the elements and is lacking access to any food or water. washington has become one of the first states to implement a humane treatment law when it comes to tethering a dog, especially when doing so for extended periods of time.
The passage of the humane treatment law protecting dogs
Senator Joe Fain, R-Auburn in Washington states that any dog kept restrained for an extended period must have access to food and water, in addition, to being protected from extreme weather. Tethered animals should be free from getting entangled as well. Legislation sponsored a new law to ensure these standards be in place as the new humane treatment law. Fain further states that owners need to take proper care of their pets. He told news reporters “There’s a significant difference between keeping a dog restrained outside for their own safety for a reasonable amount of time and reckless abandonment and neglect,” Fain said.
“This provides an opportunity for animal protection officers to assess individual situations to ensure the health and safety of man and woman’s best friend.”
Stipulations of the humane treatment law
The new legislation as proposed by Senator Fain prohibits tethering your dog with a pinch, choke or halter collar in addition to no use of a heavy chain or rope that prevents the dog from moving freely without injury.
Tethering a sick, distressed, injured or pregnant dog is prohibited. Chaining up or tethering puppies under the age of six months is not allowed. The current bill is now heading to the House of Representatives. If passed, Washington, along with the District of Columbia will be the 21st state to implement the humane treatment laws that are set to protect dogs from the dangers of tethering.
