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AN ORDINANCE OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY <br />COMMISSIONERS OF INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, FLORIDA, <br />AMENDING CHAPTER 302, ANIMAL CONTROL, INDIAN <br />RIVER COUNTY CODE SECTION 302.02 DEFINITIONS <br />AND GENERAL PROVISIONS; AND SECTION 302.051 <br />CRUELTY TO ANIMALS AND DEFINING TETHERING <br />DEVICES, PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION, <br />SEVERABILITY AND EFFECTIVE DATE. <br />WHEREAS, healthy dogs need regular exercise and dog owners may not always <br />be able to provide fencing to keep their dogs on their own property while the dog enjoys <br />its time outside; and <br />WHEREAS, owners have utilized tethers, leashes or trolley systems as an <br />alternative to a fence to provide their animal with much needed outdoor time; and <br />WHEREAS, dog owners sometimes use improper tethering practices that are <br />harmful and hurtful to their dog resulting in animal neglect and/or cruelty; and <br />WHEREAS, the Board deems it necessary to provide owners guidance for <br />property tethering practices in order to protect the animal from inhumane conditions. <br />NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY <br />COMMISSIONERS OF INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, FLORIDA that: <br />SECTION 1. AMENDMENT. <br />Section 302.02. - Definitions and general provisions. <br />35. Tether: A tether shall be defined as a trolley system, chain, cord, leash, <br />cable, or similar device which is attached to one or more fixed points to include, without <br />limitation, a house, tree, fence, post, garage, or shed, used to confine a dog or cat to <br />the owner's property and designated to be used for such purposes Means a rope, leash <br />longer than six (6) feet, pulley run, or other means of constraint that is attached to the <br />animal by a properly applied collar, halter or harness and configured so as to protect <br />the animal from injury and prevent entanglement with other objects and/or animals. <br />Sections 302.03-302.05 — No change. <br />Section 302.051. - Cruelty to animals. <br />(A) Pursuant to F.S. § 828.12, as may be amended from time to time, cruelty to <br />animals is a criminal offense. The animal control division shall investigate reported <br />incidents involving cruelty to animals and support investigations by other law <br />132 <br />