Support the House Bill to Protect Dogs From Excessive Tethering

Dear Pennsylvania resident,

Rep. Mario M. Scavello has just introduced House Bill 1254, an important bill spearheaded by the Pennsylvania Legislative Action Network to address the cruelty of tethering and the unnecessary danger posed by dogs that are excessively tethered.

Dogs are highly social animals, and they suffer from severe stress and isolation when left alone and chained outdoors for hours on end. This takes an emotional and physical toll on these animals, as many of them are forced to sleep, sit, eat and relieve themselves all within a confined area -- and often without access to shelter. Their necks suffer from constantly straining to break free from confinement, as well as from improperly fitted collars and, in some of the worst cases of neglect, their collars become deeply embedded into their skin.

In many cases, the devastating conditions brought by excessive tethering and lack of socialization cause dogs to become aggressive and attack any unfamiliar animal or person that approaches their confined space. Each year, throughout Pennsylvania, curious children are killed by dogs that have been excessively tethered. Just last January, an 8-year-old girl died after being mauled by a chained dog at a residence in Hanover Township, Beaver County.

Despite its tragic impact on local communities, excessive tethering of dogs remains an overlooked social issue that is rarely even investigated in Pennsylvania. House Bill 1254 will change that by limiting the amount of time dogs can be tethered in a 24-hour period (effectively prohibiting tethering between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.). The bill also would: require that a tethered dog have access to shade, food, shelter and water; prohibit tethering outside during periods of extreme weather or when a weather advisory has been issued; prohibit tethering a dog with a choke, chain, pinch or prong collar; and require any chain used to tether a dog to be at least six feet long or five times the length of the dog, whichever is longer.

HB 1254 would allow people to temporarily tether dogs for a maximum of 15 minutes, as long as the dog is not in danger and does not put the public in danger. It also would allow dog tethering pursuant to the following activities: organized dog shows, sled racing, licensed dog-training activities, livestock herding, agriculture cultivation and camping/recreational area activity requirements.

HB 1254 would significantly protect the welfare of Pennsylvania’s children and dogs.

Please support HB 1254 by thanking House Judiciary Committee Chairman Thomas R. Caltagirone for co-sponsoring the bill, and ask him to schedule it for a hearing. Please also ask the other committee members to vote for the bill’s passage. 

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