The St. Louis City Board of Aldermen has adopted restrictions on the tethering of dogs! Â Mayor Francis Slay is expected to sign the bill.
Under the new law no dog or cat can be tethered outside for more than 10 continuous hours and no more than 12 hours altogether in a day. Any tether or chain must be at least 15 feet long and allow the animal access to sufficient food and water. The tether or chain can only be used with properly fitting harnesses and collars made of nylon and leather. The chain or tether cannot be too heavy.
To protect dogs and cats in cold weather, the new bill requires proper shelter and hay and woodchips or something like these.
The animals must be provided with enough room that they are not forced to defecate where they eat, drink or lie down.
The bill contains protections for cats, making it illegal to beat, torment, overwork, neglect or cruelly treat a cat.
The penalty for the first violation of any part of this new law would be a $100 to $500 fine and up to 90 days in jail. For the second violation there would be a $300 to $500 in fines and up to 90 days in jail. A third violation will mean a fine of $500 plus 10-90 days in jail.
Congratulations to Randy Grim, founder of Stray Rescue of St. Louis, for his work on passing this legislation.
Grim and Elizabeth Rudder, executive director of Operation SPOT, a local non-profit organization dedicated to reducing unnecessary cases of animal euthanasia and humanely confining dogs, have announced if people bring in chains, they will receive appropriate tethers, collars and hay or woodchips. Click here to contact Stray Rescue of St. Louis for more information.
Click here for more information on why tethering or chaining dogs is not only cruel but dangerous for the community as well.
Special thanks to Randy Grim and Elizabeth Rudder, as well as all the other folks who helped get this law passed. It’s those of you making the difference in every area that is adding up to one HUGE leap for dog-kind! Tammy S. Grimes, DogsDeserveBetter.org