MORE INFO

The bill states:

It shall be unlawful to tie, tether, restrain, cage or pen a working or non-working dog outdoors, between the hours of 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.

A working or non-working dog may be tied, tethered, caged or penned outdoors between the hours of 6 a.m. and 7 p.m., to a stationary object or a pen or cage in a sized pen or cage four times the height and length of said dog; provided it is in a manner that is not inhumane or detrimental to the dog's welfare, doesn't cause the dog to choke, permits the dog to escape harm and permits the dog to reach food, water, shade and dry ground.

Because the bill applies to a “working or non-working dog,” it would likely make farming with LGDs very difficult and impractical.

See more info about A381, including the full amended bill text, HERE.

Talking Points:

• The most important talking point is how this bill would affect YOU. Why do you oppose this bill? Do you buy pastured poultry from a farmer who uses LGDs? Are you a small farmer who uses LGDs?

• The bill effectively would ban farmers from keeping LGDs penned outside at night at all. LGDs have been bred to bond with the animals that they protect, and they usually stay outside with the animals 24/7. For instance, some LGDs are penned with small livestock like poultry both day and night.

• The bill, if passed, would also pose hardships for LGD owners if they needed to confine their LGDs for whatever reason (injured, sick, etc.) because they wouldn’t be able to confine the working dogs outside even though they have been bred to remain outside.