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ORDINANCE NO. 2019- 013 AN ORDINANCE OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, FLORIDA, AMENDING CHAPTER 302, ANIMAL CONTROL, INDIAN RIVER COUNTY CODE SECTION 302.02 DEFINITIONS AND GENERAL PROVISIONS; AND SECTION 302.051 CRUELTY TO ANIMALS AND DEFINING TETHERING DEVICES, PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION, SEVERABILITY AND EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, healthy dogs need regular exercise and dog owners may not always be able to provide fencing to keep their dogs on their own property while the dog enjoys its time outside; and WHEREAS, owners have utilized tethers, leashes or trolley systems as an alternative to a fence to provide their animal with much needed outdoor time; and WHEREAS, dog owners sometimes use improper tethering practices that are harmful and hurtful to their dog resulting in animal neglect and/or cruelty; and WHEREAS, the Board deems it necessary to provide owners guidance for property tethering practices in order to protect the animal from inhumane conditions. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, FLORIDA that: SECTION 1. AMENDMENT. Section 302.02. - Definitions and general provisions. 35. Tether: A tether shall be defined as a trolley system, chain, cord, leash, cable, or similar device which is attached to one or more fixed points to include, without limitation, a house, tree, fence, post, garage, or shed, used to confine a dog or cat to the owner's property and designated to be used for such purposes Meansa Fope, leash that is attached to the animal by a properly applied collar, halter or harness and configured so as to protect the animal from injury and prevent entanglement with other objects and/or animals. Sections 302.03-302.05 — No change. Section 302.051. - Cruelty to animals. (A) Pursuant to F.S. § 828.12, as may be amended from time to time, cruelty to animals is a criminal offense. The animal control division shall investigate reported incidents involving cruelty to animals and support investigations by other law enforcement agencies when so requested and refer cases where probable cause exists to the state attorney's office for criminal prosecution. Coding: Words underscored are additions to text; words in strikethr,,,,,.h format are deletions to text.