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News covering policy and issues related to city and county governments in the Ozarks.

Long-Term Tethering of Dogs Now Illegal in Springfield

Brian Marks
/
Flickr

It’s now illegal to tether a dog in the City of Springfield for long periods of time.  City Council members unanimously passed an amendment last night to Springfield city code on the recommendation of the Animal Issues Task Force.

The task force says fixed-point tethering of dogs can lead to animal aggression and can threaten the health and safety of the animals.

There are exceptions:  the ordinance allows dogs to be tethered for short periods of time to allow owners to complete temporary tasks.  But they must have non-choke-type collars or body harnesses, and the tether must be at least three times longer than the animals.

The changes to city code also require dogs riding in the back of trucks to be secured by non-choke collars or body harnesses so that they can’t reach past the edge of the vehicles.

Michele Skalicky has worked at KSMU since the station occupied the old white house at National and Grand. She enjoys working on both the announcing side and in news and has been the recipient of statewide and national awards for news reporting. She likes to tell stories that make a difference. Michele enjoys outdoor activities, including hiking, camping and leisurely kayaking.