AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 AND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO CRUELTY TO DOGS AND SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE HUMANE HANDLING, CARE, AND TREATMENT OF DOGS.

This Act strengthens restrictions on the tethering of dogs by doing the following: 1. Changes the crime of cruelty to animals as follows: • Removes the existing crime of tethering a dog for 18 hours in a 24 hour period and makes it a crime to tether a dog outside for more than 30 minutes when the temperature is below 32 degrees Fahrenheit or above 90 degrees Fahrenheit. • Removes the exception for tethering a dog who is a nursing mother or a dog under 4 months of age if the dog is tethered on land owned or leased by the dog's owner. • Prohibits tethering a dog for more than 30 minutes between the hours of 11:00 pm and 6:00 am. • Adds a third or subsequent violation of the tethering requirements in § 3044F of Title 16 to the crime of cruelty to animals. 2. Changes the civil specifications for the humane handling, care, and treatment of dogs as follows: • Requires that the tether not be attached to a choke, pinch, or prong collar. • Requires that the owner be present on the property. • Imposes a higher civil penalty for subsequent for violations of § 3044F, the specifications for the humane handling, care, and treatment of dogs. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards to the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.