Dogs tied outside would get more protections under new Lexington County rules
If you want to tie up your dog in the yard, Lexington County could soon have something to say about it.
Lexington County Council is considering adding new rules for tethering dogs to its animal control ordinance, setting standards for how outdoor dogs can be treated that would be enforced by the county’s animal control officers.
Dog owners would have to meet new requirements for how dogs can be tethered, where and for how long. Dogs must be at least 6 months old to be tethered outdoors. They would need a collar or body harness of nylon or leather, but definitely not metal chains.
Your furry friend would need to be tethered so that they can’t injure or strangle themselves, on a rope at least 12 feet long that weighs less than 10% of the animal’s body weight.
Pups must be given fresh water and shelter while they are outdoors, and couldn’t be tethered for more than 30 minutes at a time if the temperature stays above 90 degrees or below 40 degrees over a four-hour period. The only exceptions would be if the dog has adequate shade on the hot days and shelter with bedding on cold ones. Regardless of temperature, no dog could be left out for more than two hours without shelter available.
Under the proposed rules, dogs also couldn’t be tethered in areas that put them at risk, including near standing water, excessive animal waste, trash or pest infestation.
The rules would not apply to dogs walking on a leash when they are with their humans, including at campgrounds, hunting or at public events.
The county council takes up the measure on Tuesday.
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