A restraining apparatus for an animal having a head, a neck, a torso, a first pair of appendages, and a second pair of appendages, the animal wearing a collar around the neck, the restraining apparatus (20, 30, 32)comprising: a closed ring defining an opening, the ring having an inner surface proximate to the opening and an outer surface opposite the inner surface; a coupling element including a fasten and release feature adapted for fastening to the collar, the coupling element mounted to the ring; characterized in that the restraining apparatus further comprises a substantially rigid arm comprising a first segment having a proximal end rigidly mounted to the ring, wherein the arm is maintained in a fixed position relative to the ring, a second segment having a longitudinal axis, the second segment of the arm extending from the first segment spaced from the ring and outside the limits of the opening defined by the ring, an inner surface of the second segment of the arm opposing the outer surface of the ring and forming a substantially elongated first opening with the outer surface of the ring, the second segment of the arm including a bend, and a third segment extending from the bend transversely to the longitudinal axis of the second segment of the arm in a direction toward the ring to a free distal end, the third segment of the arm having a length greater than the distance between the inner surface of the second segment of the arm and the opposed outer surface of the ring such that an inner surface of the third segment of the arm and the opposed outer surface of the ring form an elongated second opening transverse to and contiguous with the first opening. a closed ring defining an opening, the ring having an inner surface proximate to the opening and an outer surface opposite the inner surface; a coupling element including a fasten and release feature adapted for fastening to the collar, the coupling element mounted to the ring; characterized in that the restraining apparatus further comprises a substantially rigid arm comprising a first segment having a proximal end rigidly mounted to the ring, wherein the arm is maintained in a fixed position relative to the ring, a second segment having a longitudinal axis, the second segment of the arm extending from the first segment spaced from the ring and outside the limits of the opening defined by the ring, an inner surface of the second segment of the arm opposing the outer surface of the ring and forming a substantially elongated first opening with the outer surface of the ring, the second segment of the arm including a bend, and a third segment extending from the bend transversely to the longitudinal axis of the second segment of the arm in a direction toward the ring to a free distal end, the third segment of the arm having a length greater than the distance between the inner surface of the second segment of the arm and the opposed outer surface of the ring such that an inner surface of the third segment of the arm and the opposed outer surface of the ring form an elongated second opening transverse to and contiguous with the first opening. a first segment having a proximal end rigidly mounted to the ring, wherein the arm is maintained in a fixed position relative to the ring, a second segment having a longitudinal axis, the second segment of the arm extending from the first segment spaced from the ring and outside the limits of the opening defined by the ring, an inner surface of the second segment of the arm opposing the outer surface of the ring and forming a substantially elongated first opening with the outer surface of the ring, the second segment of the arm including a bend, and a third segment extending from the bend transversely to the longitudinal axis of the second segment of the arm in a direction toward the ring to a free distal end, the third segment of the arm having a length greater than the distance between the inner surface of the second segment of the arm and the opposed outer surface of the ring such that an inner surface of the third segment of the arm and the opposed outer surface of the ring form an elongated second opening transverse to and contiguous with the first opening.