Massachusetts law does not outright ban tethering or chaining dogs outside, but it imposes strict regulations to protect animal welfare. Violating these rules is illegal and can result in fines, warnings, or even loss of pet ownership in severe or repeated cases.
Key Legal Requirements
Time Limits:
- You cannot chain or tether a dog for more than 5 hours in a 24-hour period.
- Between 10:00 pm and 6:00 am, dogs may not be tethered outside for more than 15 minutes, and only if the owner or guardian is present.
Weather Restrictions:
- It is illegal to leave a dog chained or tethered outside during a weather advisory, warning, or watch, or in extreme heat, cold, wind, rain, snow, or hail that poses a risk to the dog’s health or safety, unless for less than 15 minutes and under supervision.
Age Restrictions:
- Dogs under six months old may never be tethered outside.
Equipment and Safety:
- The tether must be designed for dogs, not weigh more than 1/8 of the dog’s body weight, and must be attached to a properly fitting collar or harness (no choke or pinch collars allowed).
- The dog must have access to clean water, dry shelter, and clean bedding.
- Tethering must not allow the dog to leave the owner’s property.
Cruelty and Inhumane Conditions:
- The law prohibits confining dogs in filthy or dangerous conditions, or subjecting them to taunting, harassment, or threats.
Penalties for Violations
Penalties for breaking Massachusetts’s tethering laws range from written warnings and fines to impoundment of the dog and loss of ownership for severe or repeat offenses. Animal Control officers are tasked with enforcement.
Local Ordinances and Exceptions
- Some Massachusetts towns and cities have even stricter rules, so always check your local ordinances.
- Exceptions exist for kennels, agricultural work, and camping trips.
Summary Table
| Situation | Legal? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tethering >5 hours in 24 hours | No | Illegal statewide |
| Tethering between 10pm–6am (>15 min) | No | Illegal statewide |
| Tethering during severe weather | No | Illegal unless <15 min and supervised |
| Dogs under 6 months tethered outside | No | Illegal statewide |
| Tethering with improper collar/equipment | No | Must use proper collar/harness, no choke/pinch |
| No access to shelter/water/bedding | No | Illegal statewide |
It is illegal in Massachusetts to leave your dog chained or tethered outside for more than five hours a day, at night for more than 15 minutes, during extreme weather, or in unsafe or inhumane conditions.
Always provide proper shelter, water, and equipment, and check local ordinances for stricter rules. Violations can result in significant penalties.
Sources:
- https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXX/Chapter140/Section174E
- https://www.mspca.org/cruelty-prevention/law-enforcement-faqs/
- https://dogtime.com/reference/106620-massachusetts-animal-cruelty-law-dog-chain
- https://www.helpinginjured.com/use-some-restraint-leash-laws-in-massachusetts-and-new-hampshire/