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28	28	STATE OF OKLAHOMA
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30	30	2nd Session of the 58th Legislature (2022)
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32	32	HOUSE BILL 2993 By: Luttrell
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38	38	AS INTRODUCED
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40	40	An Act relating to animals; enacting the Humane
41	41	Tether Act of 2022; prohibiting certain cruel and
42	42	inhumane actions; prohibiting persons from chaining
43	43	or tethering a dog under certain circumstances ;
44	44	defining terms; providing requirements for tethering
45	45	dogs; prohibiting leaving a dog outside in certain
46	46	weather conditions; providing exceptions; providing
47	47	for codification; and providing an ef fective date.
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54	54	BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
55	55	SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
56	56	in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 48 of Title 4, unless there is
57	57	created a duplication in numb ering, reads as follows:
58	58	This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Humane Tether
59	59	Act of 2022".
60	60	SECTION 2. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
61	61	in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 48. 1 of Title 4, unless there is
62	62	created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
63	63	A. It shall be unlawful to tie, tether or res train any dog in a
64	64	manner that is inhumane or detrimental to its welfare. No person
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91	91	owning or keeping a dog shall chain or tether a dog outside unless
92	92	the tether is designed for dogs. Furthermore, the use of logging
93	93	chains or other lines or devices not d esigned for tethering dogs
94	94	shall be prohibited. Nothing in this section shall be construed to
95	95	prohibit a person from walking a dog on a handheld leash.
96	96	B. No person owning or keeping a dog shall subject the dog to
97	97	cruel conditions or inhumane chaining or tethering at any time. For
98	98	the purposes of this subsection, "cruel conditions" and "inhumane
99	99	chaining or tethering " shall include, but not be limited to, the
100	100	following conditions:
101	101	1. Filthy and dirty confinement conditions including, but not
102	102	limited to, exposure to excessive animal waste, garbage, dirty
103	103	water, noxious odors, dangerous objects that could injure or kill a
104	104	dog upon contact or other circumstances th at could cause harm to a
105	105	dog's physical or emotional health;
106	106	2. Taunting, prodding, hittin g, harassing, threatening or
107	107	otherwise harming a tethered or confined dog; or
108	108	3. Subjecting a dog to dangerous conditions, including attacks
109	109	by other animals.
110	110	C. A person owning or keeping a dog may confine such dog
111	111	outside, subject to the restrictions in this section, through the
112	112	use of any of the following methods:
113	113	1. Inside a pen or secure enclosure that has adequate space and
114	114	continuous access to clean water an d appropriate shelter;
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141	141	2. Inside a fully fenced, electronically fenced or an otherwise
142	142	securely enclosed yard; or
143	143	3. With a trolley system or a tether attached to a pulley in a
144	144	cable run, if the following conditions are met:
145	145	a. only one dog shall be teth ered to each cable run,
146	146	b. there shall be a swivel on at least one end of the
147	147	tether to minimize tangling of the tether, and
148	148	c. the length of the tether from the cable run to the
149	149	dog's collar or harness shall allow continuous access
150	150	to clean water and appr opriate shelter at all times.
151	151	D. A person shall not leave a dog outside when a weather
152	152	advisory, warning or watch is issued by a local, state or federal
153	153	authority in the area where the dog is located or when outside
154	154	environmental conditions including, but not limited to, extreme
155	155	heat, extreme cold, extreme wind, rain, snow or hail that pose a n
156	156	adverse risk to the health or safety of the dog .
157	157	E. An exception to a restriction on outdoor confinement under
158	158	this section that is reasonably necessary for the saf ety of a dog
159	159	shall be made for a dog that is:
160	160	1. Present in a camping or recreational ar ea pursuant to the
161	161	policy of the camping or recreational area; or
162	162	2. Actively engaged in conduct that is directly related to the
163	163	business of shepherding or herding ca ttle or other livestock or
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190	190	engaged in conduct that is directly related to the business of
191	191	cultivating agricultural products.
192	192	F. A person who violates this section shall for a first offense
193	193	be issued a written warning or punished by a fine of not more than
194	194	Fifty Dollars ($50.00), for a second offense be punished by a fine
195	195	of not more than Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) and for a third or
196	196	subsequent offense be punished by a fine of not more than Five
197	197	Hundred Dollars ($500.00), and be subject to impoundment of the dog
198	198	in a local shelter at the owner's, keeper's or guardian's expense
199	199	pending compliance with this section, or loss of ownership of the
200	200	dog.
201	201	SECTION 3. This act shall become effective November 1, 2022.
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203	203	58-2-8506 JL 11/01/21

Oklahoma 2022 Regular Session

Oklahoma House Bill HB2993 Compare Versions