Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman signed a new law Monday that places strict limits on tying up dogs and bans outdoor tethering after 11 p.m. -- and bad owners could face fines and even jail time.
The law -- which is believed to be among the strictest in the nation -- makes it illegal to chain a dog outside for more than 60 minutes during any 12-hour stretch, and outlaws tethering altogether when temperatures fall below 32 degrees or climb past 90.
The law also prohibits tethering any dog that is pregnant, sick, or under 6 months old -- and bans keeping any animal tied up outside by itself overnight, from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. the next morning.
"Some people don't have common sense when it comes to their animals," Blakeman, the GOP-nominee for this year's race for governor, told reporters in the county's legislative chambers before signing the bill into law.
"We just want to make sure that we are the most animal friendly county in all of America," Blakeman added.
Nassau joins its neighbors in Suffolk County and New York City by limiting how long owners can leave dogs tied up outdoors -- but goes further than both -- hitting owners who violate the new law with up to a year in jail, a $1,000 fine, and the forfeiture of the pet found tethered.
Suffolk tops out at a $250 fine and five days in jail for a first offense, while the city also issues $250 fines -- but it usually offers written warnings if the animal wasn't injured by being tethered, according to each municipality's legislation.
Nassau's one-hour tethering cap is the tightest time limit of any jurisdiction in America, and the law itself appears to be the strictest and have the harshest penalties for violations in the country, according to animal law databases.
Nevada allows dogs to be chained outside for up to 14 hours, Oregon allows 10, and Massachusetts is still at five -- meaning Nassau's new law sets a standard no state has yet matched.
"It's a very comprehensive law," Blakeman touted, adding that it is the first of its kind in the country to combine a strict one-hour tethering cap, temperature-based outdoor bans, and criminal penalties stiff enough to put violators behind bars for a year all under a single enforceable local statute.
Animal rights activists agreed, and thanked Blakeman and the legislature -- which unanimously passed the bill on March 9 -- for setting a nationwide example.
"I couldn't be happier," said Nassau SPCA Chief Brian Wasserman, calling the new law much needed.
Wasserman told The Post that this legislation now gives law enforcement the tools they need to better protect abused animals -- adding that the SPCA receives 25 to 30 calls per week regarding abused and abandoned tethered dogs.
"This helps bring a voice to voiceless animals," Wasserman said.