Minnesota Federated Humane Societies
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Legislation

MFHS Legislation 2026/27


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TRAINING
Minnesota Federated Humane Societies provides training to statewide humane agents and law enforcement.
EMPLOYMENT
The need to employ additional administrative staff and statewide humane agents is essential to Minnesota.
EQUIPMENT
Statewide humane agents need uniforms, badges, mobile devices and PPE equipment in order to do their jobs safely, efficiently and effectively.
EDUCATION
MFHS provides animal welfare law, cruelty prevention and animal welfare related resources and education to law enforcement and the public.


VETERINARY/ANIMAL CARE 
Animals involved in cruelty investigations requires safe haven and care. MFHS needs funding to help with veterinary and housing costs.

​MFHS FUNDING BILL 

Please support the following bill:

Since 1987 Minnesota Federated Humane Societies has provided animal welfare law protections and animal cruelty prevention services to thousands of citizens and their animals all throughout the great state of Minnesota. Minnesota Federated has unique duties and powers under Minnesota Statutes 343.01 and 343.06. We are the only organization of its kind in Minnesota under statute. Like law enforcement, and the Minnesota Animal Board of Health, in order for us to provide these unique and essential services to communities in all 87 counties, MFHS requires funding to train, employ, and purchase equipment for our team members and provide resources and education to law enforcement and the public.

Please help to sustain and expand the vitally important community services MFHS provides by supporting MFHS FUNDING BILL so that we can continue the essential work we are dedicated to providing to you and all of Minnesota.

Minnesota Federated Humane Societies, "MFHS" is a Minnesota 501(c) 3 non-profit organization with unique and essential duties and powers. See Minnesota state statutes 343.01 and 343.06.  Please also see additional essential powers and duties as stated in Minnesota state statutes 343.10, 343.12, 343.29, 346.37, 346.57, 346.58, 346.37, 347.60, 1721.0490, 2500.7050, 9100.0700.

Minnesota Federated Humane Societies has a very unique, important and essential role throughout all 87 Minnesota counties. Some of the services MFHS provides throughout Minnesota includes animal welfare education, providing resources to the public and government entities, training and appointing statewide humane agents to address and investigate reports of animal welfare law violations and assisting law enforcement/government entities throughout Minnesota. MFHS, although a nonprofit organization, has been given the authority and responsibility to investigate animal crimes and provides a crucial service to the public and law enforcement. It is a substantial job with an extensive responsibility, and because our organization was established in 1987 as a nonprofit 501(c)3 instead of a governmental agency, we are not funded in the same ways as our law enforcement partners. We must currently rely on donations to fund the vital services we provide. Because we differ from all other Minnesota humane societies, shelters and rescues, and do not offer animal sheltering services, our primary concentrations are investigations of animal welfare law violations and public safety, we do not qualify for many of the grants offered to shelters and rescues. Our uniqueness, while valuable, causes significant funding challenges. In addition, we do not feel it's ethical to compete for the funding that shelters and rescues require to provide sheltering, care and veterinary services. We instead work with those sheltering services as needed as they also play a critical role in Minnesota. MFHS is in a very unique position, we are the only organization in state statutes with these powers and duties, and with it comes unique challenges. We have specific statewide powers and duties throughout all of Minnesota and in order for us to continue to provide these essential services, MFHS needs funding. Please support Minnesota Federated Humane Societies and the vital services we provide all throughout the great state of Minnesota.

Thank you for your support.
​
This bill is in need of authors and support from the senate and house. Click on the link below to contact your legislators. Scroll down for more helpful information and an example of a letter that can be sent to legislators.

CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATORS


​Please contact our office should you have questions or would like to meet with one of our team members to discuss the importance of funding Minnesota Federated Humane Societies, Minnesota’s existing and effective office for animal protections.

The 2026 funding bill reads as follows:
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A bill for an act
relating to public safety; requiring reports; appropriating money for an annual
grant to the Minnesota Federated Humane Societies.


BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
Section 1. APPROPRIATION; GRANT TO THE MINNESOTA FEDERATED HUMANE SOCIETIES.

(a) $850,000 in fiscal year 2026 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner
of public safety for an annual grant to the Minnesota Federated Humane Societies established
under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 343. This annual grant must be used to support animal
cruelty investigations, increase capacity, and provide training and education. This
appropriation is added to the Department of Public Safety's base budget.

(b) Each year by January 15, the commissioner of public safety must submit a report on
how the grant was used under paragraph (a) to the chairs and ranking minority members of
the legislative committees with jurisdiction over public safety policy and finance.




TETHERING BILL
According to the Animal Legal & Historical Center, twenty-three US states and numerous US cities have tethering laws in place. Source: Table of State Dog Tether Laws | Animal Legal & Historical Center 

We are proposing that this potential statute could be positioned as Minnesota Statute 343.41-after 343.40 Dog Houses.

Please consider authoring and/or supporting this bill to help ensure the animal, while tethered, has solid protections in place and we, as state humane agents, in addition to law enforcement professionals, and the public at large, have good language in place to help to assist in the enforcement of the laws for the prevention of wrongs to animals which may now or hereafter exist, and to promote the growth of education and sentiment favorable to the protection of animals.

This bill is in need of authors and support from the senate and house. Click on the link below to contact your legislators. Scroll down for more helpful information and an example of a letter that can be sent to legislators.

CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATORS


​Please contact our office should you have questions.

The proposal of 343.41 TETHERING OF A DOG is as follows:

343.41 TETHERING OF A DOG

Subdivision 1. Provisions. (a) A person who tethers a dog shall provide 
(1) a sufficient quantity of good quality, wholesome food and potable water;
(2) adequate shelter and protection from the weather; 
(3) veterinary care when needed to prevent suffering; and
(4) humane care and treatment.

 (b) As used in this Section, "tether" means to restrain by tying to an object or structure, including, without limitation, a house, tree, fence, post, garage, shed, or clothes line at a person's residence or business, by any means, including, without limitation, a chain, rope, cord, leash, or running line.

Subd. 2. Crime: It shall be unlawful for any person to: 
(a) Length of time:  No person shall tether a dog for more than 9 hours within a 24 hour period or allow such a situation to occur.
(b) Entanglement: No person shall tether a dog in a manner likely to cause the animal to get entangled with another animal or object. A tether should be secured to a well fitted collar or harness by means of a swivel anchor, swivel latch or other mechanism designed to prevent the dog from becoming entangled.
(c) Chronic condition: No person shall tether a dog when the animal suffers from a medical condition that would be exacerbated by being tethered; 
(d) Water access: A person shall provide a dog access to potable water while tethered;
(e) Access to shade: A person must provide shade to a dog that permits the dog to escape the direct rays of the sun while tethered. 
(f) Extreme weather: No person shall leave a dog outside for longer than 30 minutes in temperatures above 90 or below 32 degrees fahrenheit or in extreme weather: A person shall not leave a dog outside when a weather advisory, warning or watch is issued by a local, state or federal authority or when outside environmental conditions including, but not limited to, extreme heat, cold, wind, rain, snow or hail pose an adverse risk to the health or safety of the dog based on the dog's breed, age or physical condition.
(g) Shelter: No person shall tether a dog without providing lawful shelter in extreme weather.
(h) Excessive waste: No person shall permit a dog to be tethered in an area with excessive waste or excrement.
(i) Open sores:  No person shall tether a dog if the dog has open wounds or sores on their body.
(j) Improper chain:  No dog person shall tether a dog or allow a dog to be tethered with a tow or log chain, or a choke, pinch, prong or chain collar. 
(k) Length of tether: No person shall tether a dog less than three feet longer than the length of the dog as measured from the tip of their nose to the base of their tail or 10 feet, whichever is longer.
(l): Proximity: No person shall tether the dog in a manner that would allow the dog to reach onto the property of another person, a public walkway or a road.

Subd. 3. Exceptions. This section shall not be construed to prohibit any of the following:
(1) a person from walking a dog with a hand-held leash;
(2) conduct that is directly related to the cultivation of agricultural products, including shepherding or herding cattle or livestock, if the restraint is reasonably necessary for the safety of the dog;
(3) the tethering of a dog while at an organized and lawful animal function, such as hunting, obedience training, performance and conformance events, or law enforcement training, or while in the pursuit of working or competing in those endeavors; or
(4) a dog restrained in compliance with the requirements of a camping or recreational area as defined by a federal, State, or local authority or jurisdiction.
(5) tethering a dog for a period of time, not to exceed one hour, reasonably necessary for the dog or person to complete a temporary task.

Subd. 4. Penalty. A person who fails to comply with any provision of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor. A person convicted of a second or subsequent violation within five years of a previous violation is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.
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The above proposed Tethering Bill can help to strengthen the following existing Minnesota statutes:

343.21 OVERWORKING OR MISTREATING ANIMALS.

343.40 DOG HOUSES.



Please note that Minnesota has tethering protections in place. See 1721.0520, Kennels, Subp. 6. Animal housing and confinement areas. This tethering restriction only pertains to kennels as defined in Minnesota state statute. If Minnesota had general tethering restrictions/exceptions in place it would help to further protect all dogs, not just those as stated in 1721.0520.

How you can help

Spread the word in support of animal welfare in the state of Minnesota and this critical legislation. Click on the links below to help you to locate your local representatives and Minnesota legislature.
  • Geographic Information Services / Who Represents Me? 
  • Contact Minnesota Legislature

Additional links and resources that may be helpful to you:
  • Send an email to your state legislators today and ask them to support Minnesota Federated Humane Societies.
  • Frequently Asked Questions - How Do I Contact My Legislators?
​
For more information on the bills or how you can help please Contact Us.

MFHS FUNDING BILL

Example of letter to legislators supporting funding the essential services Minnesota Federated Humane Societies provides to Minnesota.

​Below is an example of the letter that you could use to send to your legislators pertaining to the MFHS grant.  Create your own letter of support or copy and paste the contents of the letter below into the email or letter that you will be sending to your Minnesota Representative or Senator. If a contact email is not provided by a Minnesota Representative or Senator, they will typically provide a contact form. Fill out their form as completely as possible and then cut and paste the contents or a portion of the contents of the example letter below in support of MFHS. 
[Date]

[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State, Zip Code]
[Email Address], [Phone Number]

[Legislator Name]
[Legislator's Title] (if applicable)
[House of Representatives] or [Senate]
[Address]
[City, State, Zip Code]

RE: Legislation - Minnesota Federated Humane Societies, Funding Bill.

Dear [Recipient Name],

I am writing to you to ask you to please support the Minnesota Federated Humane Societies, "MFHS" funding bill. MFHS is seeking a much-needed grant to support Minnesota animal welfare initiatives as stated in Minnesota statutes 343.01 and 343.06. MFHS was first established as a nonprofit organization in 1987. Since that time, they have worked tirelessly towards fulfilling their core mission: To uphold and enforce animal welfare laws of Minnesota.

MFHS is seeking an author, co-authors and support in hopes of receiving the funding they need to be able to provide the essential services to Minnesota. See: 
Legislation - Minnesota Federated Humane Societies, Funding Bill.

343.01 PURPOSES; POWERS; COUNTY ORGANIZATION.
1. A state federation of county and district societies for 
the prevention of cruelty to animals may be created as a corporation under chapter 317A for purpose provided in section 343.06. The federation may appoint representatives in any county where no active county or district society exists for the purpose of receiving and accounting for funds from any source and may also appoint agents at large to carry out the work of the federation throughout the state. The federation and all county and district societies may appoint agents for the purpose of investigating or otherwise assisting lawfully empowered officials in the prosecution of persons charged with cruelty to animals. Appointed agents must have training and experience in activities relating to prevention of cruelty to animals or enforcement of laws relating to cruelty to animals. The federation may make bylaws as are necessary to implement its authority under this chapter and under chapter 317A.

343.06 PURPOSE OF FEDERATION. It shall be the purpose of the state federation of county and district humane societies to assist in the enforcement of the laws for the prevention of wrongs to animals; to assist in the organization of district and county societies and give them representation in the state federation; to aid such societies and agents in the enforcement of the laws for the prevention of wrongs to animals which may now or hereafter exist, and to promote the growth of education and sentiment favorable to the protection of animals.

The work MFHS does is essential to Minnesota. Without the organization, their dedicated team of Minnesota humane agents, their staff, and other professional partners, Minnesota would be a harsher and crueler place for all of us, not just animals. ​
​
Please join me and other constituents in supporting MFHS and in our effort to make Minnesota a safer place for animals. 
With your support, MFHS will be able to expand their essential services and make a greater positive impact in our communities all across Minnesota. MFHS is currently seeking $850,000 to help conduct investigations of reports of animal cruelty, abuse, neglect, torture and mistreatment and assist law enforcement and government officials throughout Minnesota to investigate reports of animal welfare violations, train and appoint professional Minnesota humane agents, compensate essential staff and humane agents, provide PPE and necessary equipment to staff and humane agents, compensate licensed veterinarians who provide their services to MFHS and animals during the investigative process, provide and expand services and educational programs. These animal welfare and public safety initiatives are crucial to the state of Minnesota. MFHS answers and addresses several thousand questions annually pertaining to animal welfare in addition to concerns and reports of animal cruelty. Your support will allow MFHS to continue to provide all these and more essential services throughout our great state of Minnesota. I would be grateful if you would join me and support MFHS and all the great work they do for Minnesota citizens and their animals. Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you in hopes of you supporting Minnesota Federated Humane Societies and in creating better and safer communities for humans and animals all across Minnesota.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]
[Contact Information]
[City], MN [Zip]

Minnesota Federated Humane Societies
​A 501(c)3 Minnesota Non-Profit Charity
Minnesota Federated Humane Societies - Minnesota Federated Humane Societies
(612) 866-8663
[email protected]


MFHS TETHERING BILL

Example of letter to legislators supporting the proposed Minnesota Dog Tethering Bill.

​Below is an example of the letter that you could use to send to your legislators pertaining to the proposed Tethering Bill.  Create your own letter of support or copy and paste the contents of the letter below into the email or letter that you will be sending to your Minnesota Representative or Senator. If a contact email is not provided by a Minnesota Representative or Senator, they will typically provide a contact form. Fill out their form as completely as possible and then cut and paste the contents or a portion of the contents of the example letter below in support of the Tethering Bill. ​
[Date]

[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State, Zip Code]
[Email Address], [Phone Number]

[Legislator Name]
[Legislator's Title] (if applicable)
[House of Representatives] or [Senate]
[Address]
[City, State, Zip Code]

RE: Legislation - Minnesota Federated Humane Societies, Tethering Bill

Dear [Recipient Name],

I am writing to in support of the Tethering Bill proposed by Minnesota Federated Humane Societies, "MFHS". The proposed Tethering Bill can be found here: Legislation - Minnesota Federated Humane Societies

MFHS was first established as a nonprofit organization in 1987. Since that time, they have worked tirelessly towards fulfilling their core mission: To uphold and enforce animal welfare laws of Minnesota. See Minnesota statutes 343.01 and 343.06.

​MFHS is seeking an author, co-authors and support for the proposed Tethering Bill. Please support this important bill.

343.01 PURPOSES; POWERS; COUNTY ORGANIZATION.
1. A state federation of county and district societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals may be created as a corporation under chapter 317A for purpose provided in section 343.06. The federation may appoint representatives in any county where no active county or district society exists for the purpose of receiving and accounting for funds from any source and may also appoint agents at large to carry out the work of the federation throughout the state. The federation and all county and district societies may appoint agents for the purpose of investigating or otherwise assisting lawfully empowered officials in the prosecution of persons charged with cruelty to animals. Appointed agents must have training and experience in activities relating to prevention of cruelty to animals or enforcement of laws relating to cruelty to animals. The federation may make bylaws as are necessary to implement its authority under this chapter and under chapter 317A.

343.06 PURPOSE OF FEDERATION. It shall be the purpose of the state federation of county and district humane societies to assist in the enforcement of the laws for the prevention of wrongs to animals; to assist in the organization of district and county societies and give them representation in the state federation; to aid such societies and agents in the enforcement of the laws for the prevention of wrongs to animals which may now or hereafter exist, and to promote the growth of education and sentiment favorable to the protection of animals.
The work MFHS does is essential to Minnesota. Without the organization, their dedicated team of Minnesota humane agents, their staff, and other professional partners, Minnesota would be a harsher and crueler place for all of us, not just animals. ​

​
Please join me and other constituents in supporting the Tethering Bill and in our effort to make Minnesota a safer place for humans and animals. I would be grateful if you would join me and support this bill, MFHS and all the great work they, law enforcement officers, government officials and other animal welfare law professionals do for Minnesota citizens and their animals. Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you in hopes of you supporting the proposed Tethering Bill and in creating better and safer communities for humans and animals all across Minnesota.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]
[Contact Information]
[City], MN [Zip]

Minnesota Federated Humane Societies
​A 501(c)3 Minnesota Non-Profit Charity
Minnesota Federated Humane Societies - Minnesota Federated Humane Societies
(612) 866-8663
[email protected]
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Address:
PO Box 416
Anoka, MN  55303


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  • Home
  • REPORT ANIMAL CRUELTY
    • How to Recognize Animal Cruelty
    • How to Report Animal Cruelty >
      • MFHS Online Report Form
  • RESOURCES
    • State and Federal Animal Welfare Laws
    • Companion Animal Resources
    • Equine Resources
    • Wildlife Resources
    • Veterinarian Resources
    • Training & Educational Resources
    • Community Cats, Affordable Veterinary Resources & Participating Rescues >
      • Participating Cat Rescues
    • Minnesota Humane Societies, Shelters & Rescues
    • MFHS Team Members
  • Donate
    • Wish List
    • Fundraising Campaigns
    • Employer Giving
    • Estate & Planned Giving
  • Legislation
  • ABOUT
    • Our Story and Mission
    • Investigations
  • Contact Us
    • Volunteer Opportunities
    • GET INVOLVED, BECOME A STATE HUMANE AGENT >
      • Statewide Humane Agents
      • Become a Statewide Humane Agent
      • Statewide Humane Agent/Law Enforcement Training