Hawaii law does restrict and, in some cases, prohibits leaving your pet—especially dogs—chained or tethered outside. The rules are designed to prevent cruelty and ensure animal welfare.
Key Points of Hawaii’s Tethering Law
- Continual Tethering Is Illegal: It is illegal to leave a dog continually chained or tethered to a stationary object in a way that endangers the dog’s health or prevents access to food, water, or shelter. Continual restraint can cause physical and psychological harm to dogs and is considered cruel and inhumane.
- Time Limits and Supervision:
- Dogs cannot be left tethered outdoors for more than 24 consecutive hours.
- The tether must be attached to a properly fitting chest harness, not a collar, and the dog must be attended to at least once every 24 hours.
- Prohibited Devices:
- It is illegal to tether a dog using a choke collar, pinch collar, prong collar, tow chain, or log chain.
- Electric shock collars are also banned for tethering.
- Puppies and Special Cases:
- Dogs under six months old cannot be tethered or restrained outside at all unless they are directly supervised by their owner or an agent.
- Dogs that are sick, injured, or in need of veterinary care cannot be tethered.
- Tether Specifications:
- The tether must be at least 10 feet long (unless the dog is being supervised), weigh less than one-eighth of the dog’s body weight, and not entangle or endanger the dog.
- The dog must always have access to clean water, shelter, shade, and dry ground.
- Short-Term Exceptions:
- Temporary restraint (such as outside a store or restaurant) is generally allowed, as is restraint for brief periods for training, exercise, or to comply with state or county requirements.
Penalties
Violating Hawaii’s tethering laws can result in a misdemeanor charge of animal cruelty in the second degree, which carries potential fines and even jail time.
Table: Hawaii’s Dog Tethering Law
| Situation | Is It Legal? | Key Restrictions/Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Continual chaining/tethering | No | Prohibited if endangers dog or restricts sustenance |
| Tethering >24 hours | No | Max 24 hrs, must use chest harness, attended daily |
| Use of choke/pinch/prong/tow/log chain | No | Only chest harness allowed for long tethering |
| Tethering puppies (<6 months) unsupervised | No | Only allowed if directly supervised |
| Tethering sick/injured dogs | No | Prohibited |
| Tether <10 feet, >1/8 dog’s weight | No | Prohibited |
| Temporary, supervised restraint | Yes | For short periods, e.g., outside a store |
It is illegal in Hawaii to leave your pet chained or tethered outside in a way that is cruel, unsafe, or for more than 24 hours without proper supervision and equipment. Always use a chest harness, ensure your pet’s needs are met, and never use prohibited devices or methods.
Sources
[1] https://legiscan.com/HI/text/HB1298/id/1706935/Hawaii-2018-HB1298-Introduced.html
[2] https://www.hawaiipublicradio.org/local-news/2020-02-09/hawaii-lawmakers-introduce-2-bills-targeted-at-dog-tethering
[3] https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2019/bills/HB633_.HTM
[4] https://www.animallaw.info/topic/table-state-dog-tether-laws
[5] https://www.peta.org/issues/animal-companion-issues/ordinances/hawaii/
