Patent ID: 7493873

Claim:
An apparatus for tethering an animal to a selected area or restraining the animal while exercising, the apparatus comprising: an anchor having a bottom portion for positioning into the ground and a top portion for positioning above the ground where the top portion comprises an annular groove; a restraint comprising a housing with a receptacle for positioning the housing about the top portion of the anchor and a lead having a proximal end secured within the housing and a distal end for securing to the animal; and a retaining mechanism slidably retained within the housing, the retaining mechanisms comprising: a latch slidably engaging the housing and having a proximal end extending from an outer surface of the housing and a surface defining a slot proximate a distal end and wherein an engaging portion of the surface defining the slot positions within the receptacle; and a compression spring having a first end engaging the housing and a second end engaging the latch wherein manual force moves the proximal end of the latch toward the housing such that the surface defining the slot is displaced from the receptacle wherein when manual force is removed from the latch, the compression spring forces the engaging portion of the surface defining the slot into the annular groove to retain the housing to the upper portion of the anchor and wherein the latch removable engages the annular groove in the anchor such that when the latch engages the annular groove of the anchor, the housing is rotatably secured to the top portion of the anchor to tether the animal in the selected area and when the latch is moved to disengage the latch from the annular groove of the anchor, the restraint is removable from the anchor and utilized as a hand-held restraint to the animal when exercised.