On August 3, 2012 Delaware Gov. Jack Markell signed S.B. 211 into law, thus banning anyone from tethering or chaining a dog more than 18 hours in a 24 hour period. No dog that is under 4 months old may be tethered or chained at all; no dog that is nursing may be tethered chained if the puppies are present. Tethering does not include use of a trolley or moving line. The law does not apply if the dog is on property owned or leased by the owner that is 10 or more acres. 11 Del. C. Section 1325. A first offense means a warning. After that, violators are guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.