Town Of Hempstead Enacts Anti-Tethering Laws For Dog Owners
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Long Island lawmakers are cracking down on one pet practice that may be more harmful than helpful to dogs.
The Town of Hempstead has adopted a new law that prohibits dogs from being tethered for more than two hours in a 12-hour period, WCBS 880's Sophia Hall reported. The law also bans dogs from being tied up overnight.
Studies have show that dogs left tied up for extended periods of time could become emotionally and physically damaged.
"It angers me personally to a great degree," Hempstead supervisor Anthony Santino said. "We were getting complaints that people were leaving their dogs outside for long periods of time, tied up without water, without food."
The law also requires dog owners to leave enough room to fit two fingers between the collar and the dog's neck when tethering their pet and imposes penalties if a dog is left outside in below freezing temperatures or temperatures above 95 degrees.
Fines range from $250 to $1,500 and repeat offenders could have their dogs taken away.
