Elisabeth Lina Stewart

Alabama’s SB361 — a bill designed to strengthen protections for dogs kept outdoors — received its scheduled hearing on March 18, 2026 before the House Agriculture & Forestry Committee. As of today, the bill has not yet advanced and remains listed as “Pending in Committee.”   This means the committee has not taken a formal vote, and no report has been posted. The bill is still alive, and public support is still urgently needed. What SB361 Would Do SB361 creates clear, statewide standards to ensure dogs kept outdoors are treated humanely. The bill would: - Establish safe tethering rules to prevent choking, injury, and dangerous confinement   - Require adequate shelter, food, water, and space   - Prohibit heavy chains and unsafe restraints   - Empower animal control officers to intervene when dogs are at risk   - Protect working dogs (hunting, herding, K‑9 units) through reasonable exemptions   These are basic, common‑sense pr...

SB361 is a 2026 Alabama bill focused on improving the safety, treatment, and living conditions of dogs kept outdoors. It sets basic humane standards, restricts dangerous tethering practices, and gives animal control officers the authority to enforce these protections.   Why SB361 Matters - It prevents cruelty before it happens by defining what safe outdoor care looks like.   - It protects dogs from injury, neglect, and life‑threatening conditions caused by improper tethering.   - It empowers local animal control officers to intervene when dogs are at risk.   - It creates clear, statewide standards, so every dog in Alabama receives the same basic protections.   Key Protections in SB361 1. Safer Tethering Rules The bill requires that dogs may only be tethered using safe, humane methods.   Examples include: - No chains or heavy restraints that can choke or injure a dog.   - Collars and harnesses must be properly fitted —...