Palm Beach County, Florida pet owners must now unchain their animals and remove them from tight outdoor cages under a sweeping new law enacting some of Florida’s toughest animal-care measures.
The controversial law, which passed in March, prohibits tethering animals at any hour — a step up from the previous daytime ban. Dogs still can be tied up under direct supervision and at some events such as shows.
The law also requires outdoor dog shelters be at least 80 square feet; they can never reach more than 85 degrees inside.
First-time violators of the tethering and shelter rules face a $100 fine. A second offense within a year comes with a $250 fine and a third offense costs $500. Depending on the severity of the violation, criminal charges may be filed.
Palm Beach County Animal Care Control drafted the new law, arguing that it targets animal owners who keep their pets in deplorable conditions, Capt. Dave Walesky said.
“We were seeing people putting dogs in rabbit hutches,” he said. “Before, we didn’t have anything to stop them from doing that.”
The new rules mark a victory for animal-rights groups and a major defeat for hunting-dog clubs and other groups that claim it goes too far.
Terry Workman, president of the Everglades Regional Dog Hunters Association, said the strict cage requirements will force lead some hunters to give away or abandon their dogs.
“It starts costing people a lot of money if they have two or three dogs,” said Workman, adding he doesn’t object to the tethering ban.
The National Animal Interest Alliance is also unhappy with the unanimous passage of the Palm Beach County regulations. The organization, which represents animal breeders, owners and their animals, failed to get Palm Beach County commissioners to soften the tethering law.
“It’s too black-and-white,” said Patti Strand, National Animal Interest Alliance chairwoman. ” will either let their dogs go or take them to a shelter.”
Many people cannot afford to fence-in their dogs, she said, and in some cases, tethering them can be appropriate and humane. Dog trolleys or runners attached overhead allow dogs to move around more. The county could have allowed the option of a fence around a tethered dog in urban areas where dogs are more likely to bite passersby.
“This is not a one-size-fits-all decision,” Strand said.
It’s about time. Who chains dogs????????
What country do u live in?
Just about everyone in Hawaii. Local Hawaiians treat their dogs horribly.
You can afford them when they’re in a rabbit hutch size cage, but you can’t afford them if they’re not???? Hey morons, bring them in the house were they belong or build a nice size dog shelter
I agree. The only time my dogs are outside is when they go to the bathroom and when i am going somewhere without them. I have a dog pen they go in. Its at least 40 ft in lenght and 10 to 15 in width. And there barely ever in it. I also have my neighbor bring them in at night when I am out of town for a night or so. I dont have alot of money, but i make sure the dogs are taken care of properly. Some people just are to greedy to oblige to there pets comfortability
If you can’t afford to keep dogs humanely, don’t keep dogs. I’m surprised the redneck gun dog people are so up in arms. I think many of them already dump the dogs that don’t hunt, or they let them roam intact to produce more puppies to choke Florida shelters with. So, now, perhaps the people who do abide by the law will be the upper class of gun dog owners that were being responsible all along about how their animals were kept. Dogs need food, water, shade, protection from predators, and exercise. Abiding by this law will help dogs that were previously being shortchanged.
To learn more about unchaining dogs: http://www.dogsdeservebetter.org/
Granted I have an “indoor dog” a miniature Poodle….but what EVER seems right about getting a dog, and putting it on a Chain? My dog is a FABULOUS guard dog, and needs the same environment the weather requires for me. If it can’t be an inside dog…YOU DON’T NEED IT! Not on the furniture or bed whatever….you don’t NEED or DESERVE a dog. Hooray!!! for Florida!!!
Great news, this law should be enforced WORLD WIDE.
Way to go, Florida! It’s about time some States got the gonads to protect dogs. They are not property, they are living, breathing creatures that feel pain and neglect!
It s about time they did that……… I hate going down a residential place and seeing dogs tied up in the back or front yard that is just wrong……..
I hope this law is all over the state soon too many dogs are dying in the heat,I wish I could chain these people in the sun or put them in a cage you can’t even move in,they need to do jail time!!!!!
I say we start a new requirement for all dog owner….. a tax that will raise money to help dog owners that can’t do for there dogs or themselves. Every dog owner will be required to pay a annual fee (tax) that will provide revenue for less fortunate dog owners. Not any different then what our government does now for welfare, EBT, government housing, free phones, free educations, WIC, etc. etc. ……What say you my fellow dog owners……1,000.00 a year is what I would agree too.