New Jersey § 4:22-17

§ 4:22-17.

a. It is unlawful for any person to cruelly restrain a dog. b. A person cruelly restrains a dog if the person tethers a dog: (1) which is a nursing female, or which is less than four months old; (2) outdoors between the hours of 11 p.m. and 5 a.m., but this paragraph shall not

take effect until 18 months after the date on which this act takes effect; (3) in an unoccupied building or upon vacant property; (4) in a manner that does not permit the dog continuous access to water in a sanitary

and liquid state whenever the dog is tethered for more than 30 minutes; (5) in a manner that exposes the dog to adverse environmental conditions for more

than 30 minutes; (6) by means of a choke collar, prong collar, head harness, or any other type of collar,

harness, or similar device other than a properly fitted body harness or buckle-type

collar; (7) by using a chain with metal links that are more than one-quarter of an inch thick,

or a tether, collar, or harness to which a weight is attached; (8) with a tether on which more than one dog is restrained; (9) with a tether that is less than 15 feet in length or which does not permit the

dog to walk at least 15 feet in any one direction; or (10) with a tether that permits the dog to reach another dog or an object or location

that poses a risk of entanglement, strangulation, drowning, or other harm to the health

or safety of the dog, including, but not limited to, another dog's tether or a window

sill, fence, wall, porch, terrace railing, vehicle, tree, pole, pool, or public road

or highway. c. Paragraphs (2), (9), and (10) of subsection b. of this section shall not apply

if any person, including the dog's owner or the person with custody or control of

the dog: (1) is in the presence of the dog at all times while the dog is tethered, whether

indoors or outdoors; and (2) can see the dog at all times while the dog is tethered, unless the person is blind

or visually impaired so that the person cannot see the dog due to the blindness or

visual impairment, in which case the person shall remain immediately adjacent to the

dog at all times while the dog is tethered. As used in this subsection, “ blind ” means a person whose vision in the person's better eye with proper correction does

not exceed 20/200 or who has a field defect in the person's better eye with proper

correction which contracts the peripheral field so that the diameter of the visual

field subtends an angle no greater than 20 degrees; and “ visually impaired ” means having a condition in which a person has a corrected visual acuity not exceeding

20/70, but not less than 20/200, in the person's better eye, or in which the peripheral

field of the person's vision has contracted so that the diameter of the visual field

subtends an angle no greater than 40 degrees but no less than 20 degrees. d. (1) The owner of a dog shall be liable for a violation of subsections a. and b.

of this section that occurs on any property belonging to the owner or on which the

owner resides at the time of the violation, regardless of whether the owner is present

when the violation occurs. (2) The person with custody or control of a dog who is not the owner of the dog shall

be liable for a violation of subsections a. and b. of this section that occurs on

any property belonging to the person with custody or control of the dog or on which

the person with custody or control of the dog resides at the time of the violation,

regardless of whether the person is present when the violation occurs. (3) Paragraph (9) of subsection b. of this section shall not apply if the dog is indoors

and a person is indoors with the dog.