Photo by Bullneck.

Has Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett been catching up with DCist’s biggest stories? Perhaps, since this idea is a natural response to the comments on our posts about Molly, who was dog-napped from outside the P Street Whole Foods last summer: Leggett has proposed a new law which would allow authorities to fine dog (and cat) owners $500 if they tie up their animals in public without keeping an eye on them. The Examiner reports that the law also contains provisions which would force owners who do tether their animals while keeping an eye on them to ensure appropriate shade during summer (or whenever the temperature is over 70 degrees) and new doghouse standards for animals who spend most of their time outdoors. The law would also up penalties, including jail time, if tethering causes suffering.

The District has tethering laws on the books, though how often such laws are actually enforced is debatable. Put it this way: I’ve never seen a cop stationed outside the Whole Foods on P Street to write tickets to those who tie up their dogs to run into the grocery. (Obviously, whether that’s an appropriate use of police resources is another debate entirely.) It would be difficult to find anyone who is actually opposed to the new Montgomery County law — anyone want to argue that abandoning dogs and/or tying them up so that it causes injury is a good idea? — but if police and other authorities don’t actually follow through on the enforcement side of things, it’s all just hot air.