Keeping pets safe and treated humanely is a priority under Nebraska law, but the rules about leaving your pet chained (tethered) outside involve both state animal cruelty statutes and local ordinances. Here’s what you need to know if you’re a Nebraska pet owner in 2025.
Statewide Law: Animal Cruelty and Neglect
Nebraska doesn’t have a blanket statewide ban on tethering or chaining pets outside. However, state law makes it illegal to neglect or cruelly treat an animal. Prosecutors can—and do—charge pet owners with animal cruelty if chaining or leaving pets outside causes them harm.
These laws require you to provide basic necessities: shelter, food, water, and protection from dangerous conditions. If your pet suffers from prolonged exposure to extreme weather, lack of shelter, or if the tether leads to injury or distress, you can face criminal charges, fines, and even loss of your pet.
When Chaining/Leaving a Pet Outside Becomes Illegal
Extreme Weather: You may not leave your pet chained outside during very hot or cold conditions. Prolonged exposure in these circumstances is considered neglect, and law enforcement may intervene.
Lack of Shelter: State law requires that outdoor pets have proper shelter—a space to escape heat, cold, rain, snow, and sun.
Unsafe or Excessive Tethering: If the chain is too short, heavy, or causes injury (like strangulation, entanglement, or prevents the pet from accessing food and water), it’s potentially illegal.
Continuous/Inhumane Tethering: Leaving a pet chained for excessive periods, especially without regular attention, can be deemed neglect or cruelty.
Violation of these standards can result in fines, misdemeanor or, in severe or repeated instances, felony animal cruelty charges.
Important: City and County Laws
Many Nebraska cities and towns have much stricter rules on chaining pets:
Omaha, Bellevue, and Several Other Cities: It’s illegal to tether a pet outdoors for more than 15 minutes at a time unless an owner or responsible adult is present in the yard. Tethers must not be heavy, must not restrict movement, and must be long enough to allow exercise and access to food/shelter. Violations can carry penalties ranging from $100 to $500 depending on frequency.
Beatrice: No pet may be chained for more than 8 hours in a 24-hour period. The tether cannot cause injury, must be attached to a suitable harness or collar, and must let the animal move and lie down comfortably.
Lincoln and Others: Local authorities often require outdoor pets to always have access to shelter, and sometimes impose additional rules on tether length, collar type, and maximum duration.
Penalties
If you’re found violating these laws, you may face warnings, fines, misdemeanor charges, or—in cases of injury or severe neglect—criminal charges and possible removal of your pet from your care.
Safe Alternatives
Instead of chaining, consider:
Secure, fenced yards for exercise.
Dog runs that allow movement but prevent escape.
Supervising your pet outdoors.
Indoor time when the weather turns extreme.
In Nebraska, it’s not automatically illegal to leave your pet chained outside, but it can become illegal if you fail to meet essential standards of care or violate local ordinances. Cruel, negligent, or unsafe chaining is grounds for prosecution, and many cities sharply limit or forbid the practice altogether.
Always check your local laws, ensure basic care and humane treatment, and choose the safest options for your pet’s welfare.
Sources
[1] https://collincountymagazine.com/2025/07/01/is-it-illegal-to-leave-your-pet-chained-outside-in-nebraska-heres-what-the-law-says/
[2] https://www.animallaw.info/statute/ne-cruelty-article-10-offenses-against-animals
[3] https://aldf.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Animal-Protection-Laws-of-Nebraska-2018.pdf
[4] https://www.peta.org/issues/animal-companion-issues/ordinances/omaha-nebraska/
[5] https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/bellevuene/latest/bellevue_ne/0-0-0-2010
