For years, animal advocates have pushed for a law to prohibit dog owners from leaving their pets chained outside.

Before, police were not allowed to intervene when they received complaints about dogs in illegal conditions for 24 hours. On paper, it sounds good but the Texas Humane Legislation Network reported that not ONE single prosecution had been made in TWO years, despite all the complaints.

 

 

Under the new law, signed by Gov. Abbot, it is illegal for people to tie up their dogs outside with chains or weighed-down restraints and that the ‘length of an outdoor restraint must be 10 feet long or five times the dog’s length from nose to tail.’

As per the law, dogs also cannot be left outside unattended while restrained unless owners give them ‘access to drinkable water’ and shelter from “inclement weather,” which includes “rain, hail, sleet, snow, high winds, extreme low temperatures, or extreme high temperatures.”

 

 

 

Before you go ‘well, good for the Texas Republican Gov.,’ note that he vetoed a similar bill stating that Texas was no place for such “micro-managing” and “over-criminalization.” It lead to #AbbottHatesDogs trending on social media.

It was the State Legislator who pressed for this humane bill.

Those who are found to violate the law will face a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $500, and repeat offenders could face a Class B misdemeanor.