On April 6, the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee will conduct a hearing to discuss legislation that prohibits tethering a dog outside unless it has constant and uninterrupted access to shelter, shade and water.
House Bill 2034 only exempts hunting, training and field trials if actively engaged in those activities. Without the continued presence of all three items at all times, a person who tethers a dog outside on a mild 70-degree day for even 5 minutes would be subject to criminal penalties under the state’s animal-cruelty law.
“This proposal doesn’t take real-world dog ownership into consideration, and opens the door to mindful dog owners being criminally cited,” said Dillon Barto, manager of state services at Sportsmen’s Alliance. “Dogs are perfectly comfortable outside, and tethers can be used humanely to keep them from running at large. Animal-cruelty laws should be based on the health and welfare of the dog in question, not on arbitrary items and timeframes that criminalize law-abiding dog owners when no danger exists.”
Tennessee sportsmen should contact members of the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee and ask them to vote NO on HB 2034. Emails should be sent to:
Chairman Representative Michael G. Curcio: rep.michael.curcio@capitol.tn.gov
Vice-Chair Representative Jerry Sexton: rep.jerry.sexton@capitol.tn.gov
Representative Carson W. Beck: rep.bill.beck@capitol.tn.gov
Representative Scotty Campbell: rep.scotty.campbell@capitol.tn.gov
Representative Vincent Dixie: rep.vincent.dixie@capitol.tn.gov
Representative Clay Doggett: rep.clay.doggett@capitol.tn.gov
Representative Andrew E. Farmer: rep.andrew.farmer@capitol.tn.gov
Representative Bruce Griffey: rep.bruce.griffey@capitol.tn.gov
Representative G.A. Hardaway: rep.ga.hardaway@capitol.tn.gov
Representative David B. Hawk: rep.david.hawk@capitol.tn.gov
Representative Dan Howell: rep.dan.howell@capitol.tn.gov
Representative Bud Hulsey: rep.bud.hulsey@capitol.tn.gov
Representative William G. Lamberth: rep.william.lamberth@capitol.tn.gov
Representative Debra Moody: rep.debra.moody@capitol.tn.gov
Representative Lowell Russell: rep.lowell.russell@capitol.tn.gov
Representative Paul Sherrell: rep.paul.sherrell@capitol.tn.gov
About the Sportsmen’s Alliance: The Sportsmen’s Alliance protects and defends America’s wildlife conservation programs and the pursuits – hunting, fishing and trapping – that generate the money to pay for them. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation is responsible for public education, legal defense and research. Its mission is accomplished through several distinct programs coordinated to provide the most complete defense capability possible. Stay connected to Sportsmen’s Alliance: Online, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
