These two laws will mean the difference between life and death for dogs across Virginia.

It’s taken 4+ years, a lot of very hard work, and the dedication of so many, but after a roller coaster of changes and compromises, both Senate Bill 272 and House Bill 1552 passed on March 8, 2020 and are moving on to the Governor's desk. 

Effective July 1, 2020:

• It is illegal to tether a pet outdoors if temperatures are above 85 degrees Fahrenheit or below 32 degrees Fahrenheit.

• It is also illegal to keep them tethered outside during a heat advisory or severe weather warning.

• In addition, the minimum tether length will be increased to15 feet in length or four times the animal’s length. Previously, the minimum required tether length was at least 10 feet or 3 times the animal’s length.

• An exception to these requirements is if an animal control officer inspects each individual animal’s circumstances and determines that they are well-equipped to tolerate their environment. A tether can also be 10 feet or shorter if it is determined to be more beneficial to the dog. 

It’s hard to imagine why anyone would oppose such basic, humane measures but believe it or not, votes were close the whole way. So we want to express our deep gratitude to Senator John Bell and Delegate Mark Levine for their hard work and dedication to seeing this through.