Doing This To Your Dog Will Soon Be Illegal In Texas

With all of the cold weather finally here in Texarkana, we keep our new dogs in our garage with a heater to keep them warm. 

One of my neighbors has their dog tied up in the backyard. The dog has a house, but because of the lack of a fence I understand it needed to be tied up but it still seemed wrong.

There is a new law coming in Texas that would make it illegal to have your dog tied up in your yard. The new law which was recently signed by Governor Abbot states that dog owners may not have their dog tied up in their yards. Here is the specifics of the new law that will take effect on January 18:

Owners will be barred from tying up their dogs outside with chains or weighed-down restraints. The length of an outdoor restraint must be 10 feet long or five times the dog's length from nose to tail. Owners will not be allowed to leave a dog outside and unattended while restrained unless the owner gives the dog access to "adequate" shelter, shade from direct sunlight, drinkable water, and proper protection from "inclement weather."

Did you know that in Texarkana, Texas they already have a city-wide law that it is illegal to have your dog tied up?

Violation is a Class C misdemeanor,  or Class B misdemeanor if previously convicted. Fines could be as high as $500. The state of Arkansas has no laws on the books for tied-up animals. What do you think about tied-up dogs?