If you’re considering chaining or tethering your pet outside in North Dakota, it’s important to understand the legal framework surrounding this issue.
While there’s no statewide law that outright bans chaining pets outside for extended periods, there are specific guidelines and animal cruelty laws in place that ensure pets are treated with care and respect. The key focus is that the animal’s health, safety, and well-being must not be jeopardized.
Statewide Law Overview: No Blanket Ban, But Protections in Place
North Dakota does not have a law that completely bans chaining or tethering pets outside for long periods. However, animal cruelty laws do apply, meaning that chaining or tethering in a way that endangers the pet’s safety, causes harm, or leads to neglect is illegal. Such actions can result in serious legal consequences, including fines and even jail time.
Key Legal Requirements for Tethering Pets in North Dakota
When chaining or tethering a pet outside in North Dakota, pet owners must comply with several key legal requirements to ensure their pet’s well-being:
Provide Adequate Shelter: Pets must have access to shelter that protects them from extreme weather conditions such as heat, cold, rain, or snow.
Ensure Proper Care: Your pet should always have access to fresh water and food. The tethering should not cause harm, injury, or undue distress.
Avoid Dangerous Conditions: It is illegal to tether a dog in a way that puts its health or safety at risk. This includes situations where the pet could become entangled, exposed to harsh weather, or unable to reach basic needs like food or water.
Local Ordinances: Stricter Regulations in Some Cities
While North Dakota does not have a statewide ban on chaining, certain cities within the state have enacted stricter rules:
Fargo: Tethering is limited to two hours at a time, with a required two-hour break between each tethering session. No more than four two-hour periods are allowed within a 24-hour span. The chain or tether used must be at least three times the length of the animal, and it must not weigh more than ten pounds. The animal must always have access to shelter and water during this time.
Bismarck, Minot, and Mandan: These cities have additional regulations regarding animal restraint, shelter, and the number of pets allowed in a household. Dangerous or potentially dangerous dogs may have more restrictions, and pet owners may be required to comply with even stricter guidelines for these animals.
Penalties for Violating Animal Care Laws
Failing to follow proper animal care regulations can lead to severe consequences:
Animal Cruelty Penalties: If chaining or tethering endangers an animal’s well-being, the pet owner could face fines ranging from $100 to $500, imprisonment for up to 30 days, or both.
Seizure of Animals: Law enforcement may seize pets that are found to be neglected or abused. In some cases, a court may order the animal to be adopted out, or even humanely destroyed, if the animal’s health is beyond recovery.
Sources:
1. https://ndnewengland.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/2021-Ordinances-C12.pdf
ances/fargo-north-dakota/
2. https://www.bismarcknd.gov/DocumentView.aspx?DID=150
