Supporters, There was a bill introduced this past January in Virginia during the 2017 session, HB 1802. The bill would have prohibited the tethering of dogs (one of the things we hope to include in the proposed law). The summary of the bill is as follows: Care of companion animals; tethering; penalty. Prohibits tethering of companion animals outdoors unless the owner is outdoors within sight of the animal. A violation of this prohibition is a Class 4 misdemeanor and a second or subsequent violation is a Class 3 misdemeanor. But it failed, and the reason is ludicrous. Read the following article from the Richmond Times-Dispatch: http://www.richmond.com/opinion/our-opinion/opinion-what-kind-of-jerks-think-it-s-ok-to/article_36345bad-bd0c-54ce-88f3-e565dfbd95d5.html We have to let the lawmakers know that this rationale is completely unfair and one-sided. Please contact your local legislator and share this petition with them. You can find your legislator here: http://whosmy.virginiageneralassembly.gov/