Nassau County Enacts Stricter Dog Leashing Law

On Monday, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman enacted a new law that enforces stricter regulations on dog leashing. The new rules prohibit dogs from being tied outside after 11 p.m., with fines or even jail time for those who don’t comply.

This legislation is noted as one of the toughest in the U.S. It prohibits chaining a dog outdoors for more than 60 minutes during a 12-hour period, and completely bans tethering if temperatures dip below 32 degrees or rise above 90.

Moreover, the law forbids tethering pregnant, sick, or dogs under six months old. It also restricts leaving animals alone outdoors overnight between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m.

“Some people just don’t have common sense when it comes to animals,” Blakeman, who is running for governor this year, remarked to reporters prior to signing the bill.

Blakeman further expressed a desire for Nassau to be “the most animal-friendly county in the nation.” This county joins Suffolk County and New York City in implementing restrictions on how long dogs can be left leashed outside, but Nassau’s measures are more stringent: offenders may face up to a year in prison, a $1,000 fine, and the confiscation of their pets.

In comparison, Suffolk County’s fines cap at $250 for a first offense, along with a potential five-day jail sentence. Typically, a warning is issued for tethering incidents that don’t involve injuries to the pet.

As per the Animal Law Database, Nassau’s one-hour tethering limit is believed to be the strictest in the country, featuring the harshest penalties for violations.

Blakeman stressed the comprehensiveness of the law, highlighting how it uniquely combines a strict tethering time limit, temperature-based restrictions, and robust criminal penalties.

Animal rights advocates have praised this move, expressing gratitude to Blakeman and Congress, which unanimously passed the bill earlier this month.

Brian Wasserman, Director of the Nassau SPCA, shared his joy over the law, emphasizing its necessity. He pointed out that the SPCA handles about 25 to 30 calls weekly regarding abused or abandoned dogs.

“This helps give a voice to animals who don’t have a voice,” he said.