Beginning November 12, 2016, the tethering section of Chapter 7, Animals, of the Las Cruces Municipal Code (LCMC) goes into effect. More specifically;
Section 7 to 13. Restraint requirements. C. Owner’s premise. (2) states; A person owning or having care, custody, or control over a dog on his or her premise may use a tether as a temporary means restraint only.
- A person shall not tether a dog to a stationary object for more than 2 hours in any 12-hour period.
- A person shall not tether a dog to a running line, pulley, or trolley system for more than 4 hours in any 12-hour period.
- A person shall not tether a dog in an unenclosed area where people or other animals are able to wander into the proximity of the tethered dog.
- A tether used to restrain a dog shall be at least 12 feet in length. Such tether shall not enable the animal to reach beyond the owner’s property.
- A tether used to restrain a dog shall be affixed to a properly fitting collar or harness worn by the dog. A person shall not wrap a chain or tether directly around the neck or other body parts of a dog.
- A tether used to restrain a dog shall not weigh more than 1/8th of the animal’s body weight. The tether weight shall include any additional objects attached to the dog or tether, such as locks or fasteners.
- A tether used to restrain a dog shall have working swivels on both ends and shall be fastened so that the animal may sit, walk, and lie down using natural motions. Such tether shall be unobstructed by objects that may cause the tether or animal to become entangled or strangled.
- In all cases, a tethered dog must be able to reach a container with water in it at all times.