Standards for care and shelter of animals and providing a penalty

What it would have done

Summary by the Legislative Reference Bureau, the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.

This bill creates standards for the shelter, tethering, and transportation of animals. Specifically, with regard to shelter for dogs, the bill provides that dog houses must rest on a flat, solid floor that is at least four inches high, must provide enough room for the dog to stand, sit, turn around, or lie flat, must be windproof, must be shaded from direct sunlight, and must be surrounded by a reasonably dry and clean area. With regard to tethering dogs, the bill provides that dogs may not be tethered outside during extreme weather or in unsafe or unsanitary conditions, for such an unreasonable amount of time that it affects the dog's well-being, or for more than ten hours in a 24-hour period; a person must be on or near a property where a dog is tethered; a tether may not weigh more than 15 percent of the dog's weight, the tether must be the longer of 12 feet or four times the length of the dog, and the collar used may not be improperly fitted nor a prong, pinch, or choke collar;

and a vicious, dangerous, or sick, pregnant, or nursing dog, or a dog that is under the age of five months, may not be tethered. With regard to the transportation of animals, the bill requires a person to crate or restrain an animal being transported in the bed of a truck on public roads or lands in a manner that ensures the animal cannot fall or jump or be strangled.

Who's behind it

5 senators are its authors⁠. All 5 are Democrats.

12 more lawmakers signed on in support⁠.