Jef Futscher wrote:
I read the law & the way I read it, you can still teather a dog as long as it's chain is 10' or 3 x's longer than the dog. You can still have them outside as long as their dog houses meet the criteria & proper bedding.
I really don't see it as a bad thing & my thoughts are... Most houndsmen I know all ready meet the criteria they underlined. It looks to me more like it would effect people that buy the cute little puppy & when it gets big they kick it out of the house & tie it to a box only to be fed & no attention the rest of its life.
I personally hate to see scraggly dogs just tied to a box & never get attention. Don't get me wrong my hounds are tied to a box but they get tended to at least 2-3 times per day & they get hunted year round. They're never laid up more than 2-3 weeks at a time & that's only when the females are in heat.
I personally like chains more than kennels because in my experience I give them more attention because it's easier when I walk by to stop to scratch their ears on a chain then open the door of a kennel.
I'm not against kennels at all, I just prefer chains.
If you want to side with the HSUS on this one, that's on you. I really don't think you're understanding the bill in it's entirety. I would hope any one of us who would call himself a houndsmen would agree that we don't want to see dogs neglected, in poor conditions without adequate shelter and space. But this poorly written bill is over the edge. One way or another under this bill, if you leave dogs chained out, you will be in violation of the law. Even so much as tying a dog to a tree in a night hunt while you are shining another dogs tree will be against the law by this bill. I suggest you re-read this section of the bill before you get behind it.
(c.1) Tethering of dogs.--
14(1) Except as otherwise provided under subsection (c)(2)
15or paragraph (2), a person commits a summary offense if the
16person tethers an unattended dog, by use of a physical
17restraint, to any stationary or highly immobile object
unless
18all of the following apply:19(i) The tethering is not for a longer period of time
20than is reasonably necessary for the dog or person to
21complete a temporary task that requires the dog to be
22physically restrained.
23(ii) The dog is periodically monitored while
24tethered.
25(iii) The tether is attached to the dog by a
26nonchoke-type collar and is attached to the object by
27swivel anchors, latches or similar devices in a manner
28which prevents the tether from:
29(A) becoming entangled around any object so as
30to limit the dog's freedom; or
20150SB0373PN0288 -2-
1(B) entangling the dog or any of the dog's
2appendages.
3(iv) The tether used to restrain the dog is of a
4type commonly used for the dog involved and is not
5thicker than one-eighth of an inch.
6(v) The tether is at least three times the length of
7the dog, as measured from the tip of the dog's nose to
8the base of the dog's tail, but not less than 10 feet in
9length.
10(vi) The dog has easy access to potable drinking
11water, edible food and adequate shade and shelter within
12the tethered area, unless the dog is being directly
13supervised.
14(vii) The dog is not tethered outdoors:
15(A) during any period in which a severe weather
16warning has been issued for the area by the National
17Weather Service; or
18(B)
for a continuous period of time greater than
19 30 minutes if the temperature is below 32 degrees
20Fahrenheit or above 90 degrees Fahrenheit.