Dogs, tethering of; locality authorized to adopt an ordinance to restrict. (HB889)

Introduced By

Del. Bobby Orrock (R-Thornburg) with support from co-patron Del. Tim Hugo (R-Centreville)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate
Signed by Governor
Became Law

Description

Tethering of dogs; local ordinance. Authorizes the governing body of any locality to adopt an ordinance restricting the tethering of a dog outdoors. The ordinance may limit the maximum number of hours or the weather conditions during which the dog may remain tethered but shall not restrict normal hunting or agricultural activities. The bill provides that its provisions shall not repeal, amend, impair, or affect any tethering ordinance adopted prior to July 1, 2018. Read the Bill »

Status

03/10/2018: failed house

History

DateAction
01/09/2018Committee
01/09/2018Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/18 18101099D
01/09/2018Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources
01/25/2018Assigned ACNR sub: Subcommittee #1
01/29/2018Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment (4-Y 3-N)
02/07/2018Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources with substitute (15-Y 6-N) (see vote tally)
02/07/2018Committee substitute printed 18106867D-H1
02/09/2018Read first time
02/12/2018Read second time
02/12/2018Committee substitute agreed to 18106867D-H1
02/12/2018Engrossed by House - committee substitute HB889H1
02/13/2018Read third time and passed House (52-Y 48-N)
02/13/2018VOTE: PASSAGE (52-Y 48-N) (see vote tally)
02/14/2018Constitutional reading dispensed
02/14/2018Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources
03/01/2018Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources with substitite (8-Y 6-N) (see vote tally)
03/01/2018Committee substitute printed 18107983D-S1
03/05/2018Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
03/06/2018Read third time
03/06/2018Reading of substitute waived
03/06/2018Committee substitute agreed to 18107983D-S1
03/06/2018Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute HB889S1
03/06/2018Passed Senate with substitute (33-Y 6-N) (see vote tally)
03/07/2018Placed on Calendar
03/07/2018Speaker ruled substitute 18107983D-S1 not germane
03/08/2018Chair ruled substitute not properly before the Senate
03/10/2018No further action taken
03/10/2018Failed to pass in House

Video

This bill was discussed on the floor of the General Assembly. Below is all of the video that we have of that discussion, 1 clip in all, totaling 2 minutes.

Comments

Lee M Gibbs writes:

I believe there is enough evidence, provided over more than a decade, that supports banning all tethering without direct supervision of all animals. I question why there are still questions about this. I question why our elected officials continue to debate this issue. No living creature dependent on human care should be tethered without supervision, left in the heat or cold without enough compassion from human kind to provide (real) shelter, water, food and dare I say love and kindness. Are we going to continue to allow people to treat animals this way? Is this what we want our society to teach our children? To whom is this acceptable? I suggest it is not acceptable to reasonable people and request our lawmakers step up.