HOUSE BILL NO. 2812 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE DOLL.
6280H.01I JOSEPH ENGLER, Chief Clerk
AN ACT To amend chapter 578, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to the offense of unlawful dog tethering or chaining, with a penalty provision.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Chapter 578, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be 2 known as section 578.019, to read as follows: 578.019. 1. A person commits the offense of unlawful dog tethering or chaining 2 if the person: 3 (1) Keeps a dog tethered or chained while the dog is unsupervised by a 4 competent individual physically present on the property with the dog; 5 (2) Keeps a dog tethered, chained, or otherwise restricted by a leash, rope, chain, 6 or other similar mechanism with which the dog does not have shelter from extreme 7 natural elements, adequate food, or access to unfrozen potable water; 8 (3) Keeps a dog tethered or chained in an area that is unsafe or insanitary or not 9 free from obstruction that may cause entanglement or injury; 10 (4) Keeps a dog tethered or chained for at least thirty minutes at a time, over a 11 total of three hours in a twenty-four-hour period; or 12 (5) Inappropriately tethers or chains a dog with a tether or chain that is not 13 proportionate to the size of the dog, that is less than fifteen feet in length, and that is not 14 attached to the dog by a properly fitting harness or collar. 15 2. The offense of unlawful dog tethering or chaining is a class B misdemeanor. 16 3. The provisions of this section shall not apply to a person restraining a dog: 17 (1) Under the requirements of a camping or recreational area; or
EXPLANATION — Matter enclosed in bold-faced brackets [thus] in the above bill is not enacted and is intended to be omitted from the law. Matter in bold-face type in the above bill is proposed language. HB 2812 2
18 (2) Temporarily during the act of hunting. 19 4. As used in this section, the following terms mean: 20 (1) "Animal control", the municipal or county animal control agency or other 21 entity responsible for enforcing animal-related laws; 22 (2) "Tethering or chaining", the practice of tying, fastening, or restraining a dog 23 to a stationary object as a means of keeping the dog under control. The term "tethering 24 or chaining" does not apply to a dog being walked on a leash. 25 5. A law enforcement or an animal control officer, if the animal control officer 26 has the authority, may make an arrest for a violation under this section. 27 6. An animal control officer may immediately seize a dog if the officer has 28 reasonable grounds to believe that prompt action is required to protect the health and 29 safety of the dog or others. ✔
Statutes affected: