COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. - Starting on Saturday, May 1, 2010, dog owners in Collier County will be fined if they leave their dogs unattended while chained or tied up outside.

The dog tethering ordinance was approved a few months ago. The new rule requires owners to be outside, within clear view of their dog. The new regulations also govern the weight and length of the dog's chain or tether; there are also rules concerning the type of collar that the dog is permitted to wear while chained up or tethered.

Advocating for the regulation is one group called Dogs Deserve Better; they told the commissioners that tethered dogs are more apt to engage in behaviors like nuisance barking and even aggression.

Collier County dog owners who violate the dog tethering ordinance will pay $107 on the first offense; subsequent offenses can carry fines of up to $500 per citation.