WAYNESBORO, Va. (WHSV) – As the Shenandoah Valley faces the impact of cold temperatures and snow, it’s important to keep your dog’s safe from the weather.
In the state of Virginia, it’s illegal to keep your dog tethered or chained outside if the weather is too hot or too cold. That means in temperatures of 32 degrees or lower, 85 degrees or higher or any weather advisory, dogs cannot be left unattended outside.
”The reason we pushed to make it illegal to have them tethered, is because a lot of dogs have frozen to death over the years when they have been tethered,” Kimberly Hawk, President of Dogs Deserve Better Blue Ridge said. “Unfortunately, it’s common to see dogs chained or tethered outside in our area.”
The law also requires tethers or chains to be at least 15 feet long; If too short, there is a possible risk of injury or strangulation.
“What will often happen is their tether or their chain gets caught up on something; they could get caught up on debris or a branch,” Hawk said. “If the person is not going out and checking on their dog every hour, they could easily get stuck. They can’t escape if a coyote were to enter the yard.”
Although some breeds like Huskies, Malamutes and Great Pyrenees are typically seen as better suited for snow, they still should not be left unattended in freezing temperatures.
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