Beau’s Law heads to Gov. Ivey to set new Alabama dog care standards

Mill Creek Dog Park 1 — A new law promoting dog safety is headed to Gov. Ivey’s desk for approval. (Hville Blast)

SB 361, more commonly known as Beau’s Law, has made its way through the Alabama legislature, officially giving approval to a ban of tethering dogs to stationary objects without providing adequate shelter, food or water.

The bill is now headed to Governor Kay Ivey’s desk for it to be signed into law. If signed, Beau’s Law will go into effect Oct. 1.

The legislation requires:

If dogs are tethered outside, they must be provided with shelter that shields them adequately from the elements + inclement weather.
The tether must:
- not be unreasonably heavy in relation to the dog’s weight.
- not allow the dog to leave the property of the person responsible for the dog.
- be attached to a properly-fitted collar or harness + have a swivel on both ends to minimize tangling.
- not extend over an object or edge that could potentially hurt the dog or strangle it.
- not be attached to a logging chain, choke collar or pinch collar.
The shelter must:
- have a roof, walls + floors.
- have space for the dog to stand up, lie down, turn around + stretch.
- be made of durable materials (including chain-link + electric fencing) with all four sides enclosed + provide ventilation.
- be free from accumulated waste, standing water + debris.
The dog must have unlimited access to the shelter.