Clinton County Legislature deadlocks 5-5 on motion to advertise public hearing on proposed dog-tethering law

The Clinton County Legislature on June 11 voted to a 5-5 tie on a motion to advertise a public hearing for Local Law No. 1 of 2025, a proposed law that would restrict continuous outdoor tethering of dogs in the county. The motion to advertise the hearing (Resolution 402) was moved by Legislator Alicia Hall and seconded by Legislator Alicia Malloy; a roll-call vote produced a 5-5 split and the measure did not advance.

Supporters of the proposed law used the public-comment period to press the legislature for a public hearing and broader review. Dr. Kendra Bradley Durant described her service dog’s history and argued prolonged tethering was inhumane, saying, “A 24-hour tether ban isn’t regulatory overreach… It regulates harmful conditions and bans suffering.” Jennifer Jewett, a retired Air Force member, told the legislature she and local organizers had worked since December 2023 to draft a countywide law and asked…