09/17/2026
Beginning October 1, 2026, Alabama’s new Beau’s Law will establish statewide standards for how dogs may be tethered or housed outdoors. The law does not ban outdoor dogs or all tethering, but it does set minimum requirements owners must follow.
Key points for dog owners:
• Dogs tethered outdoors must generally be attached to an appropriate trolley system rather than chained to a fixed object.
• Tethers must be connected to a properly fitted collar or harness and designed to prevent tangling, injury, or strangulation. Logging chains, choke collars, and pinch collars cannot be used.
• Dogs kept or tethered outdoors must have continuous access to adequate food, clean water, and proper shelter.
• Outdoor shelters must protect the dog from weather, provide shade, keep the animal dry, have a solid floor, allow ventilation, and be large enough for normal movement.
• Outdoor pens and enclosures must be secure, provide adequate space, and include access to food, water, and appropriate shelter.
• The law includes several exceptions, such as certain hunting, agricultural, livestock working, training, veterinary, boarding, and temporary tethering situations.
Beau’s Law takes effect October 1, 2026. We encourage dog owners to review their outdoor kennels, shelters, and tethering setups now to ensure they meet the new requirements.
We appreciate our community’s continued cooperation and commitment to keeping both animals and neighbors safe. Thank you for taking the time to understand these new standards and for working with us as the state implements Beau’s Law.
To read the law in its entirety, visit:https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/files/pdf/SearchableInstruments/2026RS/SB361-enr.pdf
