Purpose: To provide for the custody, care, and protection of domestic animals so that they will not be abandoned, neglected or cruelly treated and to prevent said animals from becoming a public nuisance or risk to public health or safety or the environment. A limited period of tethering is allowed provided that certain conditions are met. No person shall cruelly mistreat, abandon or withhold proper sustenance, including food, water, shelter that protects from the elements, exercise or medical treatment, necessary to sustain normal health and fitness or to end suffering or abandon any domesticated animal to die, or intentionally, knowingly or recklessly leave an animal unattended and confined in a motor vehicle when physical injury to or death of the animal is likely to result, or ride an animal when it is physically unfit, or injure any animal for the purpose of making it perform for a person’s amusement, or cruelly chain, tether or confine outside any animal or use, train or possess any domesticated animal for the purpose of seizing, detaining or maltreating any other domesticated animal. Kanawha County, WV recently implemented this law and we should follow suit.  It is the humane thing to do.  (Animal Cruelty & Canine Tethering Ordinance
KANAWHA COUNTY ANIMAL CRUELTY & CANINE TETHERING ORDINANCE
Authority: Authority to regulate and manage dogs and cats- W. Va. Code §19-20-6
Authority to prevent cruelty to animals, impose penalties for violations -W. Va. Code 1-14; cruelty to animals, fines for animal cruelty- W. Va. Code § 61-8-19.