Dog Tethered and Left Unattended Outside a Storefront

A dog may not be tethered or restrained outdoors and left unattended for more than three continuous hours in any twelve-hour period. A tether must let the dog move without tangling, must not be attached in a way that risks injury, and the dog must have shelter from extreme weather. A single photograph documents the tethering and its conditions but cannot by itself establish the three-hour duration.

• dog leashed to a bike rack, parking meter, sign pole or door handle outside a store with no handler nearby
• tether wrapped short around a fixture so the dog cannot sit or lie down
• dog tethered on a bare sidewalk in direct sun or heavy rain with no shade or shelter
• storefront name or address visible in the same frame as the tethered dog

1. Photograph trash, bags, or spill at the curb with building address visible.
2. Note time of day — set-out time violations require proof of early placement.
3. File at 311 under Dirty Conditions or Sanitation.
4. For commercial waste, note business name on signage if visible.

Official channel: portal.311.nyc.gov or dial 311. Agency: NYC DOHMH / NYPD.

DSNY fines range from $50–$500+ for set-out time, containerization, and dirty-area violations. Repeat commercial offenders may face escalated penalties.

DSNY Sanitation Enforcement inspects and may issue Notices of Violation. Residential issues may be referred to property management; commercial routes get BIC oversight.

• What 311 does after you file