In West Virginia, tethering or chaining a dog is legal, but with important restrictions. The state’s animal cruelty laws make it unlawful to intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly cruelly chain or tether an animal.
Violating this provision is a misdemeanor offense. While the state does not provide detailed standards for humane tethering, you must ensure that your pet is not chained in a way that could choke, injure, or endanger them. Tethered dogs must always have access to food, water, and shelter.
Local Ordinances
Many cities and counties in West Virginia have stricter local ordinances that set specific rules for how and when a dog can be tethered. Here are some examples:
Charleston
- It is illegal to attach a chain or tether directly to a dog without a proper collar or harness.
- Dogs cannot be tethered for more than two continuous hours (except in extreme temperatures, when the limit is one hour).
- Tethering can only resume after a three-hour break, and cannot occur more than five times in a 24-hour period.
- The tether must be at least ten feet long and weigh no more than 1/8 of the dog’s body weight.
- Tethering must not cause injury, strangulation, or entanglement.
Kanawha County
- Tethering is only allowed for short, necessary periods and the owner must be present and able to see the dog.
- The tether must be at least ten feet long, weigh no more than 1/8 of the dog’s weight, and be attached to a well-fitted harness or collar (not directly to the neck).
- Dogs cannot be tethered during extreme weather unless adequate shelter, food, and water are provided.
- Dogs under six months old, sick, or injured may not be tethered.
Other Municipalities (e.g., Marmet)
- Similar restrictions apply, including bans on tethering during extreme weather and minimum distance requirements from roads or sidewalks.
Animal Cruelty
Regardless of local laws, cruel tethering or chaining that causes harm or endangers the animal can be prosecuted as animal cruelty under state law. Aggravated cruelty (causing serious injury or death in a sadistic manner) is a felony.
Summary Table
| Situation | State Law | Local Ordinance (Example) |
|---|---|---|
| Chaining/tethering generally | Legal but not cruelly | Often strict limits (time, weather, equipment) |
| Tethering causing harm or endangerment | Illegal | Illegal |
| Tethering during extreme weather | Not specified | Usually prohibited or restricted |
| Tethering puppies (<6 months), sick/injured | Not specified | Usually prohibited |
| Tether length/weight requirements | Not specified | Often required (e.g., 10 ft, ≤1/8 body weight) |
Key Takeaway
- You may not cruelly chain or tether a pet in West Virginia.
- Local laws may ban or strictly limit outdoor tethering.
- Always check your city or county’s ordinances for specific rules.
- Never tether a dog in a way that could cause injury, entanglement, or leave them exposed to extreme weather.
Violations can result in fines, misdemeanor charges, or even felony charges in cases of aggravated cruelty.
Sources:
- https://fohowv.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Kanawha-final-tethering-ordinance.pdf
- https://www.animallaw.info/topic/table-state-dog-tether-laws
- https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/marmetwv/latest/marmet_wv/0-0-0-4514
- https://www.reddit.com/r/WestVirginia/comments/sn4am5/what_are_the_laws_on_keeping_an_animal_on_a_chain/