This has been heavy on my mind. Our community is making great efforts regarding launching local pet pantries, adoption events, more pet friendly locations, expansion of dog parks, more shelters breaking ground, and so much more however WHY is there no push towards individual cities to put better pet ordinances in place to help keep pets safe, healthy, and happy? I watched a dog live a sad life on a tethered chain all season long while animal control did nothing about it in Lowell, no matter how many times I called. That dog eventually died and the owner got a new dog to torture. I tried to see if I could make change in my hometown. In 2018, I sent an ordinance proposal to Rogers City Council regarding a tethering ordinance. At that time, there were only six cities in Arkansas with a tethering ordinance - two of those being Springdale and Fayetteville. We should be putting in more effort to ensure that the people that have pets are treating them with the care they deserve. I realized that we need to do better as a state.

I am calling on Governor Asa Hutchinson to sign into law the The Outdoor Pet Safety Act which will state: 

• To prohibit the use of direct point chaining or tethering a pet to a stationary point.
• Dogs can be tethered by a trolley system or the tether is attached to a pulley on a cable run with certain conditions for a limited amount of time under reasonable weather conditions. 
• Outdoor pets must have access to adequate shelter, food, and water at all times.
• If a weather advisory or warning is issued by authorities, or when outdoor conditions (extreme heat, cold, wind, rain, snow or hail) pose an adverse risk to the health or safety of the pet, the pet must be brought indoors.
• Penalty: 1st Offense - Misdemeanor, 2nd or Subsequent Offense - Felony

We need to be the voice for those who cannot speak. We are not doing enough. I am begging the state of Arkansas to consider the safety of pets statewide. This has been long overdue. I am hoping this will be the 1st of many pet laws. Please sign, share, and let’s get this message out to Governor Asa Hutchinson!