Tougher law leaves dogs protected

HARLINGEN — A new state law that prohibits unreasonable restraints for dogs during the late night hours and during extreme weather should help deter animal cruelty, pet advocates said.

The law, House Bill 1411, was introduced by Rep. Buddy West, R-Odessa, and went into effect Sept. 1. It states that owners cannot leave a dog outside and unattended by the use of a restraint that unreasonably limits the dog’s movement between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

The law further states that in the event of extreme weather including outdoor temperatures that reach below 32 degrees, or a hurricane, tropical storm or tornado warning issued for the jurisdiction by the National Weather Service, a dog cannot be left outside and restrained by a restraint that “unreasonably limits the dog’s movement.”

Another major condition of the law is the type of restraint used by pet owners. An owner violates the law if they use a restraint that unreasonably limits a dog’s movement if the restraint is a pinch-type, prong-type or choke-type collar. Additionally, the law states that a dog is limited in movement if the length of the restraint is shorter than five times the length of the dog or 10 feet.

Already, the city of Harlingen has an ordinance that prohibits leashes that are less than 10 feet long, said Shannon Harvill, the city’s senior animal control officer.

“We were already headed in a step in that direction,” Harvill said.

The addition of the state law to the local ordinance also helps strengthen the protection of dogs, said Ramiro Gonzales, the director of environmental health for the city of Harlingen.

Currently, Harvill and Gonzales said the city is addressing different issues in HB 1411 that are broad. For example, the city is questioning what “unreasonable limits” might mean.

For now, though, the city’s animal control officers are enforcing the law, they said.

“We’re enforcing this law the same as city of Harlingen ordinances and state laws,” Harvill said.