HB403 Alabama 2016 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Steve McMillan

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2016

Title

Dogs, limits for chaining and tethering, seizure by humane officer, penalties, Alabama Dog Tethering and Outdoor Shelter Act

Summary

HB403 would ban tethering dogs to stationary objects, require outdoor shelters that meet defined standards, and establish penalties for violations.

What This Bill Does

The bill prohibits tethering a dog to stationary objects and allows only hand-held leashes. It sets three approved outdoor confinement options: a secure pen or enclosure, a fully fenced yard, or a trolley/cable tether that meets strict safety rules. It defines what counts as an adequate outdoor shelter and makes unlawful tethering a Class B misdemeanor, with several exemptions (vet practices, shows, hunting/training, camping areas, grooming, emergencies up to three hours, and certain farming/herding activities). It also notes that although the bill involves local funds, it is exempt from local-funding requirements because it creates a new crime.

Who It Affects

• Dog owners and keepers in Alabama, who would be subject to tethering restrictions, shelter requirements, and potential penalties for unlawful tethering.
• Boarding kennels, veterinary clinics, and public/private humane shelters, which are exempt from certain outdoor confinement requirements when housing dogs temporarily.
• People involved in hunting, livestock farming, or herding who train or work with dogs, who may be exempt from outdoor confinement restrictions in certain contexts.
• Local governments, which are affected by the constitutional funding note but are shown to be exempt from the local-funds approval process due to the bill defining a new crime.

Key Provisions

• Prohibition on chaining or tethering a dog to stationary objects, with an exception for walking a dog on a hand-held leash.
• Outdoor confinement options include: (1) pen/enclosure with adequate space, (2) fully fenced or electronically fenced yard, or (3) trolley/cable tether with specific safety and design requirements (weight limit, single dog per run, proper collar/harness, swivels, minimum 10-foot tether, 4-7 feet height, access to water and shelter).
• A defined 'adequate outdoor shelter' requirement: shelter must have a roof, four walls, a solid floor, be dry and weatherproof, provide ventilation, space to stand/turn/extend limbs, protect from the elements, provide shade, be sanitary, and allow unlimited access.
• Unlawful tethering is a Class B misdemeanor, with specific exemptions for veterinary practices, exhibitions/shows, hunting/training, camping/recreation areas, grooming, emergencies up to three hours, and certain farming/herding activities.
• Effective date set as the first day of the third month after passage; the bill is declared exempt from Amendment 621 local-funding requirements because it creates a new crime.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Dogs