S.B. 92 Prohibit Long-Term Tethering | Humane Society of Utah

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Two bills sponsored by Senator Gene Davis (D-SLC) and supported by the Humane Society of Utah have been tabled by the Senate committees which they were presented to for consideration. S.B. 92 would limit the tethering of animals to no more than 10 hours per day while S.B. 253 would prohibit the sale of certain animals (primarily cats and dogs) in certain public areas. While both have been tabled and in all likelihood will not be brought up again for further discussion, the HSU wants to thank everyone who took time and made the effort to contact lawmakers expressing support of these two bills. While the HSU strongly believes these bills need to be passed, our organization also understands it often takes more time than weʼd prefer to see proposed legislation become law. The Humane Society will continue pursuing passage of these bills, if not this year, in years to come. As always, you will be updated on developments regarding S.B. 92 and S.B. 253.

Friday, February 22, 2013

S.B. 92 Prohibit Long-Term Tethering Of Dogs

The Humane Society of Utah, along with other animal groups, is supporting passage of a law in the current session of the state legislature that would prohibit Long-Term Tethering of Dogs.

What this bill will do:

This bill will prohibit keeping a dog on any chain, rope, cable, or device attached to a fixed object for longer than ten hours within a twenty-four hour period.

Prohibit tethering a dog in any manner that would cause injury or damage to the dog, or when restriction of movement would endanger a dog, or fails to provide sufficient length to provide the dog with adequate space for reasonable exercise and to make normal postural movements.

Why this bill is needed:

Dogs (like people are social animals, yet more than 200,000 dogs live empty lives chained or tethered outdoors. Tied-up outside, dogs become lonely, bored, and anxious, and they can develop aggressive behaviors.

In many cases, the necks of chained dogs become raw and covered with sores, the result of improperly fitted collars and the dogs' constant yanking and straining to escape confinement. Dogs have even been found with collars embedded in their necks, the result of years of neglect at the end of a chain.

Dogs tethered for long periods can become highly aggressive. Dogs feel naturally protective of their territory; whe confronted with a perceived threat, they respond according to their fight-or-flight instinct. A chained dog, unable to take flight, often feels forced to fight, attacing any unfamiliar animal or person who unwittingly wanders into his or her territory.

In addition to the psychological damage wrought by continuous chaining, dogs forced to live on a chain make easy targets for other animals, humans, and biting insets. A chained animal may suffer harassment and teasing from insensitive humans, stinging bites from insects, and, in the worst cases, attacks by other animals. Chained dogs are also easy targets for thieves looking to steal animals for sale to research institutions or to be used as training fodder for organized animal fights. Finally, dogs' tethers can become intangled with other objects, which can choke or strangle the dogs to death.

Exemptions include:

Training, grooming or instruction of dogs on a farm.

Lawful unting, fishing or trapping of wildlife.

Lawful use of electronic locating or training collar.

Attachment to ar running line, pulley or trolley system if the attachment is not with a choke chain, choke collar or pinch collar.

To view a copy of the S.B. 92 click HERE.

SB 92, "Tethering of Animals," will come before the Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Standing Committee on Monday, February 25th at 4:00 P.M. Room 415 at the State Capitol. We are asking you to contact the members of this committee and urge them to let this bill pass through the committee and be heard on the Senate floor.

Please send the following committee members a brief message to let them know where you stand on this issue:

Senator Scott K. Jenkins Chair	sjenkins@le.utah.gov
Senator Allen M. Christensen	achristensen@le.utah.gov
Senator David P. Hinkins	dhinkins@le.utah.gov
Senator Ralph Okerlund	rokerlund@le.utah.gov
Senator Jim Dabakis	jdabakis@le.utah.gov
Senator Peter C. Knudson	pknudson@le.utah.gov
Senator Evan J. Vickers	evickers@le.utah.gov