Substitute Senate Bill No. 274
AN ACT PROHIBITING THE UNREASONABLE CONFINEMENT AND TETHERING OF DOGS.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. Section 22-350a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2010):
(a) No person shall tether a dog to a stationary object or to a mobile device, including, but not limited to, a trolley or pulley by means of a: (1) Tether that does not allow such dog to walk at least eight feet, excluding the length of such dog as measured from the tip of such dog's nose to the base of such dog's tail, in any one direction, (2) tether that does not have swivels on both ends to prevent twisting and tangling, unless the owner or keeper of such dog is in the presence of such dog, (3) coat hanger, choke collar, prong-type collar, head halter or any other collar, halter or device that is not specifically designed or properly fitted for the restraint of such dog, (4) tether that has weights attached or that contains metal chain links more than one-quarter of an inch thick, or (5) tether that allows such dog to reach an object, including, but not limited to, a window sill, edge of a pool, fence, porch or terrace railing that poses a substantial risk of injury or strangulation to such dog if such dog jumps over such object, unless the owner or keeper of such dog is on the premises. The provisions of subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection shall not be construed to apply to: (A) Any veterinary practice licensed pursuant to section 20-197 that tethers a dog in the course of such veterinary practice, (B) any exhibition, show, contest or other temporary event in which the skill, breeding or stamina of such dog is judged or examined, (C) any exhibition, class, training session or other temporary event in which such dog is used in a lawful manner to hunt a species of wildlife during the hunting season for such species of wildlife or in which such dog receives training in a lawful manner to hunt such species of wildlife, (D) the temporary tethering of a dog at any camping or recreation area as expressly authorized by the Commissioner of Environmental Protection, or (E) the temporary tethering of a dog at a grooming facility in the course of grooming such dog.
(b) Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect any protection afforded to any dog pursuant to any other provision of the general statutes, regulations of the Connecticut state agencies, local ordinance or local regulation.
(c) Any person who confines or tethers a dog for an unreasonable period of time or in violation of the provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall be fined [not more than] one hundred dollars for the first offense, [not less than one] two hundred dollars [or more than two hundred fifty dollars] for a second offense, and not less than two hundred fifty dollars or more than five hundred dollars for [any] a third or subsequent offense.
Sec. 2. Subsection (b) of section 22-354 of the 2010 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2010):
(b) Any dog sold or offered for sale by a pet shop licensee in this state shall be accompanied by a certificate of origin identifying the name and address of the person, firm or corporation that bred such dog and of any person, firm or corporation that sold such dog to such pet shop licensee. Such certificate shall be in a form as prescribed by the Commissioner of Agriculture. Such information contained in the certificate of origin shall be posted [in a conspicuous manner not more than ten feet from the location where such dog is displayed for sale] on the sign described in section 22-344d and such information shall be visible to customers. A copy of such certificate shall be provided to the purchaser of such dog at the time of sale and shall be filed by such licensee with the Department of Agriculture not later than [two] seven days after such sale. No pet shop licensee shall purchase a dog or cat for resale from a breeder or other person, firm or corporation located outside of this state that is not in possession of a current license issued by the United States Department of Agriculture and any applicable state agency. Any pet shop licensee violating the provisions of this subsection shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty days, or both, for each violation. Each day a pet shop licensee is in violation of this subsection shall constitute a separate offense.
Approved June 2, 2010