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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | January 30, 2013 03:47 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Richard L. Alloway, II |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Anti-Tethering Legislation |
| In the near future, I plan on introducing legislation regarding the tethering of dogs in Pennsylvania. This legislation will amend Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) further providing for the offense of cruelty to animals. Tethering of dogs is cruel and inhumane. Dogs are highly social pack animals who thrive on human and animal interaction and companionship. To a dog, being constantly tethered is like solitary confinement is to a human being. An otherwise friendly dog, when kept tethered becomes unhappy, anxious, and often aggressive and develops neurotic behaviors such as incessant barking, digging and chewing. Perpetually tethered dogs lead miserable lives! They live, eat, and sleep on their own tiny patch of packed down dirt, full of excrement that their owners rarely clean. They are tormented by fleas, ticks, and other insects from which they cannot escape, and suffer from diseases which can kill them. Tethered dogs rarely receive proper care. Currently, over 120 cities, counties, and towns in over 30 states have legislation prohibiting or restricting the perpetual tethering of dogs and more are quickly following suit. California and Texas have state-wide laws restricting the tethering of dogs for no more than three hours a day. Many other states currently have anti-tethering bills pending in their legislature. This legislation will provide for a summary offense if a person tethers a dog outside and unattended to any stationary object by use of a restraint and fails to satisfy a certain number specified requirements set forth in the legislation. In addition, this legislation provides for a misdemeanor of the third degree if an individual violates any offense of cruelty to animals in conjunction with the tethering of dogs. If you are interested in joining us in protecting dogs from perpetual tethering please become a co-sponsor of this legislation. |
Introduced as SB522