Tethering Update

As of April 7, 2025, the tethering section of Chapter 7, Animals, of the Las Cruces Municipal Code (LCMC) went into effect. More specifically;

Section 7 – 13. Restraint requirements.

• A person owning or having the guardianship, care, custody, or care over an animal shall keep the animal under humane physical restraint at all times excluding community cats and dogs using the off-leash areas of City dog parks.
• A person shall not hobble an animal, or tether or attach any animal to any object that can be dragged or moved by the animal. Such an animal, if not otherwise restrained by a secure tether, when a tether is allowed, or enclosure, shall be considered by the Animal Control Officer to be unrestrained. This shall not apply to livestock animals being properly used for work purposes.
• A person owning or having guardianship, care custody, or control over an animal on his or her premises shall restrain the animal either by a secure enclosure or by immediate physical control.
  • All pens, kennels, stall, corrals, or other enclosures used to restrain an animal shall be continuously maintained with preservatives, fasteners, and other materials to prevent deterioration and animal escape. Substantial and acceptable locking or latching devices shall be installed and utilized on all gates and doors to animal enclosures to prevent animals and small children from entering and prevent animal escape.
• A person owning or having guardianship, care, custody or control over a companion animal( s) may not tether the animal( s) to a stationary object as a form of restraint unless otherwise specified in this section.
• A person owning or having guardianship, care, custody, or control over a companion animal, including livestock, shall keep the animal upon his or her own premises within a secure enclosed pen, or in an area containing a fence or wall of sufficient height surrounding the perimeter of the property. It shall be unlawful to tether/ trolley a companion animal as a form of confinement.
• Fixed point tethering of any companion animal to stationary objects is permitted in limited circumstances such as picnics or gatherings in a park or open space; for emergency purposes to permit an individual to render aid to a human or another animal, and only when the owner or person having care, custody or control is immediately present.
• Tethering/ trolleying, when permitted must meet the following requirements:
  • A person shall not tether a companion animal to a stationary object for more than one hour in any 24- hour period.
  • A person shall not tether a companion animal in an unenclosed area where people or other animals are able to wander into the proximity of the tethered dog.
  • A tether/ trolley used to restrain a companion animal shall be at least 12 feet in length.
• A tether/ trolley used to restrain a companion animal shall be affixed to a properly fitting, humane collar or harness worn by the companion animal. A person shall not wrap a chain or tether directly around the neck or other body part of the dog
• A tether/ trolley used to restrain a companion animal shall not weigh more than one- eighth of the animal’ s body weight. The tether weight shall include any additional objects attached to the companion animal or tether such as locks or fasteners.
• A tether/ trolley used to restrain a companion animal shall have working swivels on both ends and shall be fastened so that the animal may sit, walk, and lie down using natural motions. Such tether shall be unobstructed by objects that may cause the tether or animal to become entangled or strangled.
• In all cases, a tethered/ trolleyed companion animal must be able to easily reach shade and a container with clean water in it at all times.
• No companion animal who is sick, injured, in distress, pregnant, or younger than 6 months old may be tethered.
• When determining if any animals has been tethered for a minimum of 1 hour( 60 minutes), it acceptable for an ACO to drive by the location at four 20 min intervals to observe whether or not the animal is still tethered. If the animal is tethered at each of those observation points, it shall be prima facie evidence that the animal has been tethered for 60 consecutive minutes or more, and a citation may be issued for violation of this Ordinance.
• Livestock- Fences to be provided for a livestock enclosure shall be species appropriate. For use in conjunction with stud stalls, such fences shall be maintained not less than six feet in height.A person owning or having guardianship, care custody, or control over a venomous reptile shall restrain the animal to the owner’ s premises by securing two ( 2) locked cages or a locked cage inside a locked box to provide two barriers to the venomous reptile. This requirement shall not apply to Animal Control Officers transporting venomous reptiles.
  • A cage used to restrain a venomous reptile shall feature labeling that clearly defines and identifies the animal with the following information:
    • Common Name
    • Scientific Name
    • Venomous Nature
• A person owning or having guardianship, care, custody, or control over an animal off of his or her premises shall be of suitable age and/ or strength and ability to keep the animal under immediate physical control.
  • A leash used to restrain a companion animal shall be any chain, leather strap, or cord sufficient to hold under control the animal attached thereto and shall be no longer than six (6) feet.