Massachusetts Law Prevents Dogs Tethering Outside, Fines $300 to Violators

Pets are a wonderful thing to have. They allow give us companionship, make things less lonely, and for most people, they develop a long-lasting bond that sticks with them for a while. Most of the time, these pets will appreciate everything you do. For most pets, it means a lot to them when you give them a place to stay, a bed to lie on, and food to eat. It means a lot when they are considered a member of the family, and it's always nice to know that whenever you come back from whatever events and tasks you had to do that day, there's always someone waiting for you to come home. For Massachusetts, the responsibility for owning a dog will be that much more serious with their new law passed.

According to WWLP.com, the new law makes it illegal to have your dog unattended or outside for more than five hours at a time. Even more so, the law now makes it illegal for any dog to be tethered outside during any weather warning or advisory so as to ensure that they are safe in case anything happens during said time of warning or advisory. This should clearly help the dogs as weather warnings and advisories are enough to keep anyone on edge, let alone a pet that's kept outside against their will. The reason for this law being mentioned to the public is because of an incident that happened some time earlier where a dog was reported being left outside and not taken care of. The police, however, said this was not true. 

The Humane Society of the United States claims that the law took effect on November 17, 2016. The signing of the bill will allow the state of Massachusetts to be a safer place for dogs since the law states that if the dog is tethered outside during the day, it must have access to clean water and a dog shelter that is fully enclosed on three sides with a roof. Any owner found violating this law will be fined anywhere between $50 for the first offense and $300 for subsequent offenses. Dogs may not have much to say to us, but it is important that someone out there speaks for them while they cannot.

Tags

Dogs, Law, Pet Safety, Massachusetts Laws, Tether

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