ASPCA: Tethering

What Is Tethering?

In the context of companion animal welfare, tethering refers to the practice of tying or chaining a dog to a stationary object, often outdoors, as a primary means of confinement.

What Is the ASPCA’s Policy on Tethering?

The ASPCA is opposed to tethering and supports the passage of laws that ban tethering/chaining of dogs. The long-term tethering of animals is simply inhumane and creates unsafe environments for both people and animals. Experts agree that continually chained or tethered dogs are responsible for the majority of the serious dog bites and attacks in this country. Anti-tethering laws are essential components of comprehensive, breed-neutral dangerous dog laws.

What’s Wrong With Tethering?

Tethering is cruel to dogs and dangerous for people because, over time, it creates anxious, frustrated and aggressive dogs who are more likely to bite and engage in fatal attacks. Additionally, continually chained animals can suffer injuries when their collars become embedded in their necks—or even strangle to death when chains become entangled with other objects. Finally, if given the chance, a tethered dog is more likely to run away and not respond to recall commands.

Who Tethers Their Dogs?

In regions of the United States where it is normal for pets to live most or all of their lives outside, many people with large parcels of land—and those without fenced-in yards—use tethering as a means of keeping their dogs from leaving their property. While these owners may view tethering as a responsible alternative to allowing their dogs to wander off, life on a tether can be a harsh one, causing as much damage to a dog’s mind, body and spirit as long-term confinement in a cage.

What Are the Effects of Long-Term Tethering on Dogs?

Tethering for short time periods with appropriate equipment in an animal-friendly environment (access to water and shelter, for example) is generally harmless. However, keeping a dog on a tether for the majority of his waking hours, as many people do, is inhumane and often leads to unanticipated, negative behavioral changes. Tethered dogs run a high risk of becoming “stir crazy” due to the inability to release their energy and socialize with others. With dogs, boredom often leads to aggression.

An additional contributor to aggression is that given only a small area in which to dwell, tethered dogs are known to become irrationally protective of that area because it is, essentially, their whole world. A 1991 study by the City of Denver revealed that a chained or tethered dog is 2.8 times more likely to bite than a dog who is not chained or tethered.

Are There Laws that Address Tethering?

Yes, there are. Anti-tethering laws/tethering regulations may be passed on the state or local level, and as awareness of the dangers of tethering has grown, more and more jurisdictions have done so. While some bills seek to ban tethering outright, these typically have a hard time gaining enough support to pass. More moderate tethering laws usually do one or more of the following:

• Prohibit tethering puppies/dogs younger than six months old
• Prohibit tethering a dog who has not been spayed or neutered (unaltered dogs are even more likely to attack from a tether than altered ones)
• Prohibit using a tether weighing more than the animal reasonably can bear
• Prohibit tethering a dog outside overnight
• Restrict the length of time that an animal may be tethered

Are Anti-Tethering Laws Effective in Reducing Dog Bites or Improving Public Safety in Other Ways?

Yes—tethering is a public safety issue as well as an animal welfare issue. Coupled with proper enforcement of animal cruelty and animal fighting laws, laws that prohibit tethering or chaining have been shown to reduce dog fighting and cruelty complaints. For example, Lawrence, KS, has found that its anti-tethering law has worked well to decrease dog fighting because dog fighters usually tether their dogs. Lawrence allows dogs to be tethered without supervision for only one hour.

Furthermore, recognizing that tethered dogs pose a higher risk of aggression, Texas’s anti-chaining law (Health and Safety Code, Chapter 821), among other things, prohibits dogs being tied up, chained or tethered within 500 feet of school property.

Who Opposes Anti-Tethering Laws?

There are some legislators, especially those from poorer regions where tethering is more prevalent, who believe that tethering legislation is elitist because it will force their constituents to erect fencing they cannot afford. There are also those who feel that these laws encroach on personal property rights (in this case, the “property” in question is not only the dog, but the dog owner’s land as well). Of course, those who keep dogs outside could always bring their dogs into the home at no cost at all—fences are not the only option.

Has the ASPCA Been Involved in Passing Legislation that Restricts Tethering?

Yes, we have. In 2006, we activated our large base of California animal advocates in support of an “Anti-Chaining” bill. Because of this bill (now a law), the State of California now prohibits fixed tethering/chaining for more than three hours in a 24-hour period.

In 2007, we promoted anti-tethering bills that ultimately passed in two other states. In Tennessee, dogs can no longer be chained in a manner that is inhumane or prevents access to food, water or shelter; and the aforementioned Texas law prohibits the tethering of dogs outdoors between the hours of 10:00 P.M. and 6:00 A.M. and during extreme weather conditions.

In 2008, we promoted the passage of anti-tethering measures in South Carolina and Pennsylvania. The South Carolina bill passed the Senate, but died in the House. The Pennsylvania bill passed its first committee vote by a large margin (24-4), but unfortunately failed to progress any further.

How Can I Help?

You can take a more active role by working with the ASPCA to pass state- and local-level legislation that regulates tethering.

Stay up-to-date about current legislation related to dangerous dogs/reckless owners by joining the ASPCA Advocacy Brigade.

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