New California tethering law

Mono County Animal Control is advising all dog owners and caretakers in the county that California has enacted a law restricting the "tethering" of dogs."

This new law takes effect Jan. 1, 2007, and makes it illegal for a person to "tether, fasten, chain, tie or restrain a dog...to a dog house, tree, fence or any other stationary object."

The new law contains a number of exceptions to this general prohibition on tethering.

First, it does not prohibit a dog from being attached to a "running line, pulley or trolley system" as long as the dog is not connected to the system by a choke or pinch collar.

Nor does the law prohibit the tethering of a dog in a campground or recreational area if required by the rules of the campground or recreational area.

Also, the law allows a person to tether a dog for a reasonable amount of time, not to exceed 3 hours in a 24-hour period, in order to complete a temporary task and to tether a dog in connection with an activity conducted pursuant to a license issued by the State of California.

The law permits a person to tether a dog while engaged in an activity directly related to shepherding, herding livestock or cultivating agricultural products.

A person convicted of an infraction will have to pay a fine of up to $250 for each dog illegally tethered, while a person convicted of a misdemeanor will have to pay a fine of up to $1,000 for each dog illegally tethered and in addition, may be sentenced to up to six months in the county jail.

Anyone with questions should call (760) 932-5630.