Law sets minimum shelter, restraint standards for dogs

ALABAMA — Senate Bill 361, also known as “Beau’s Law,” became effective in Alabama as of Oct. 1.
The name comes from viral photos of a dog named Beau being kept outdoors without adequate shelter, food and water in harsh winter conditions in the Birmingham area.
The law, from Senator Garlan Gudger and enacted in April of this year, sets minimum standards of care and shelter for dogs, as well as restrictions on the type of restraints used.
Section 2 of the bill prohibits people from tethering dogs to a stationary object like trees or poles unless the tether has a trolley system that allows the dog to move and isn’t too heavy.
The tether must also be properly fitted, but not long enough to allow the dog to leave the owner’s property. The tether can only be connected to one dog, and must have a swivel on both ends so it doesn’t become entangled.
The tether must also allow the dog to always have access to adequate food, water and shelter. Those standards are also defined in the bill.
Section 1 of the bill defines adequate food as “food that is offered in suitable intervals and in sufficient amounts to prevent starvation or significant risk to a dog's health from lack of food.”
Adequate water is defined as “potable water that is offered in suitable intervals and in sufficient amounts to prevent dehydration or significant risk to a dog's health from lack of water.”
Finally, Section 1 defines properly fitted by two standards. The first is that the collar or harness “Is appropriately sized for the dog based on the dog's measurements and body weight.”
The second standard of fitment is that the collar or harness “does not choke the dog or impede the dog's normal breathing or swallowing.”
The restrictions on tethers also include logging chains, choke collars and pinch collars.
Dogs can also be kept in enclosures, but they must be completely enclosed and have adequate space as well as access to food, water and shelter. Once again, it cannot allow the dog to leave the owner’s property.