by Robyn OguinyeFriday, October 29th 2021
State passing of ‘Safe Outdoor Dogs Bill’ long overdue, local animal rights activists say( SBG Photo)
Keeping your pets safe, that’s the priority of a bill that will become law in January.
The “Safe Outdoor Dogs Bill” is making the neglect of your pet a punishable, criminal offense.
The state is now making law what San Antonio has had in place since 2017.
Senate Bill 5 makes chaining a dog in your yard illegal.
Instead, if your dog has to be restrained for a short period of time, no chains can be used, only collars or material meant to be worn around a dog’s neck.
San Antonio animal rights activists say this is long overdue.
“Too many dogs are seen as burglar alarms or some sort of security device instead of the living beings that they are and they’re kept in chains,” says Rachel Wolf with VOICE for Animals San Antonio. “A lot of times they’re forced to be mean so that they can scare away people. This is going to be some protection for them.”
Gov. Greg Abbott originally vetoed the bill during the regular session, but received backlash from the public, much of it coming from the hashtag #abbotthatesdogs.
The bill’s primary sponsor, Senator Eddie Lucio Jr., says he can see why the governor may have had a change of heart.
He says this was his third attempt to make this a law.
“It’s extremely rare that a governor includes legislation that is vetoed. Quite frankly he knows how important this issue is,” says Lucio. “He heard from the people of Texas.”
The new law makes it illegal for animals not to be given proper shelter, shade from direct sunlight and water.
It also eliminates a 24 hour rule that kept law enforcement from intervening if they came across a dog in inhumane conditions.
“Removing the 24-hour notice actually makes it possible for those enforcing the law to do it right there and then instead of coming back 24 hours later,” says Lucio. “Maybe they cleaned up the place a little bit and then it’ll happen again.”
What about dogs that could pose a threat to others if not restrained?
Wolf says there’s always room to course correct your pet.
“They are probably not interacting with their families enough and those sorts of dogs shouldn’t be chained anyway because chaining can often lead to more aggressive behavior,” she says.
For those caught breaking this law, you’re looking at a Class C misdemeanor and a $500 dollar fine.
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