SACRAMENTO, Sept. 27 (UPI) -- California's governor has signed a new law that makes it illegal to tether a dog to a stationary object for more than three hours.
"This bill helps protect dogs from cruelty, and enhances public safety by preventing aggressive animal behavior that can result from inhumane tethering," Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said in a release.
The offense is punishable by a fine not to exceed $1,000 per dog and/or up to six months in a county jail, the governor's office said.
Schwarzenegger signed two other bills last week to enhance pet safety. One law will make it a crime for pet owners to carelessly leave animals unattended in vehicles during dangerous conditions, and the other increases the penalty for causing any animal to fight with another animal to one year or less in the county jail or up to a $5,000 fine, or both. A second fighting offense may result in prison time or a $25,000 fine, or both.
