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STATE OF OKLAHOMA
2nd Session of the 58th Legislature (2022)
HOUSE BILL 2993 By: Luttrell
AS INTRODUCED
An Act relating to animals; enacting the Humane
Tether Act of 2022; prohibiting certain cruel and
inhumane actions; prohibiting persons from chaining
or tethering a dog under certain circumstances ;
defining terms; providing requirements for tethering
dogs; prohibiting leaving a dog outside in certain
weather conditions; providing exceptions; providing
for codification; and providing an ef fective date.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 48 of Title 4, unless there is
created a duplication in numb ering, reads as follows:
This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Humane Tether
Act of 2022".
SECTION 2. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 48. 1 of Title 4, unless there is
created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
A. It shall be unlawful to tie, tether or res train any dog in a
manner that is inhumane or detrimental to its welfare. No person
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owning or keeping a dog shall chain or tether a dog outside unless
the tether is designed for dogs. Furthermore, the use of logging
chains or other lines or devices not d esigned for tethering dogs
shall be prohibited. Nothing in this section shall be construed to
prohibit a person from walking a dog on a handheld leash.
B. No person owning or keeping a dog shall subject the dog to
cruel conditions or inhumane chaining or tethering at any time. For
the purposes of this subsection, "cruel conditions" and "inhumane
chaining or tethering " shall include, but not be limited to, the
following conditions:
1. Filthy and dirty confinement conditions including, but not
limited to, exposure to excessive animal waste, garbage, dirty
water, noxious odors, dangerous objects that could injure or kill a
dog upon contact or other circumstances th at could cause harm to a
dog's physical or emotional health;
2. Taunting, prodding, hittin g, harassing, threatening or
otherwise harming a tethered or confined dog; or
3. Subjecting a dog to dangerous conditions, including attacks
by other animals.
C. A person owning or keeping a dog may confine such dog
outside, subject to the restrictions in this section, through the
use of any of the following methods:
1. Inside a pen or secure enclosure that has adequate space and
continuous access to clean water an d appropriate shelter;
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2. Inside a fully fenced, electronically fenced or an otherwise
securely enclosed yard; or
3. With a trolley system or a tether attached to a pulley in a
cable run, if the following conditions are met:
a. only one dog shall be teth ered to each cable run,
b. there shall be a swivel on at least one end of the
tether to minimize tangling of the tether, and
c. the length of the tether from the cable run to the
dog's collar or harness shall allow continuous access
to clean water and appr opriate shelter at all times.
D. A person shall not leave a dog outside when a weather
advisory, warning or watch is issued by a local, state or federal
authority in the area where the dog is located or when outside
environmental conditions including, but not limited to, extreme
heat, extreme cold, extreme wind, rain, snow or hail that pose a n
adverse risk to the health or safety of the dog .
E. An exception to a restriction on outdoor confinement under
this section that is reasonably necessary for the saf ety of a dog
shall be made for a dog that is:
1. Present in a camping or recreational ar ea pursuant to the
policy of the camping or recreational area; or
2. Actively engaged in conduct that is directly related to the
business of shepherding or herding ca ttle or other livestock or
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engaged in conduct that is directly related to the business of
cultivating agricultural products.
F. A person who violates this section shall for a first offense
be issued a written warning or punished by a fine of not more than
Fifty Dollars ($50.00), for a second offense be punished by a fine
of not more than Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) and for a third or
subsequent offense be punished by a fine of not more than Five
Hundred Dollars ($500.00), and be subject to impoundment of the dog
in a local shelter at the owner's, keeper's or guardian's expense
pending compliance with this section, or loss of ownership of the
dog.
SECTION 3. This act shall become effective November 1, 2022.
58-2-8506 JL 11/01/21