Dogs Deserve Better

Than Life On A Chain

Imagine

 Being locked in a room with no TV to

watch, no radio to listen to and no computer
to use. You have no newspaper or books to
read and you don't have a telephone. You
get no exercise because you are never
permitted to leave your small room, so all
you can do is pace the perimeter.

 Once or twice a day, someone comes to

your door and leaves a tray of food and
water for you, (if you're lucky) and luckier
still if that person spends five minutes
talking with you.

 During your long years of imprisonment, you

will rarely, if ever, get the chance to bathe
and you must sleep only inches from where
you go to the bathroom, which is never
cleaned up, only trodden down from your
constant pacing.

 Unfortunately, this is the sad and daily

existence of thousands of dogs across
America that are chained or penned 24
hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a
year in backyards for their entire lives, all
but forgotten by their "owners".

 Humans in this country used to

be kept in chains while waiting
to be sold at slave auctions.
Slaves were treated as "objects"
without feelings. Some slaves
were tortured by cruel owners.
Similarly, some people now
keep dogs in chains and treat
them as "objects" without
feelings. Dog fighters torture
dogs in terribly cruel ways to
make them mean.

The Facts

 Dogs thrive on human companionship.

Dogs outside don't get a lot of time
socializing with people."
There is not much of a life on the end of a
chain."

Chaining or Tethering
These terms refer to the practice of
fastening a dog to a stationary
object or stake, usually in the
owner's backyard, as a means of
keeping the animal under control.
These terms do not refer to the
periods when an animal is walked
on a leash.

Why Is Chaining Inhumane?

Dogs are naturally
social beings who thrive
on interaction with
human beings and
other animals. In the
wild, dogs and wolves
live, eat, sleep, and
hunt with a family of
other canines. Dogs are
genetically determined
to live in a group.

 A dog kept chained alone in one

spot for hours, days, months, or
even years suffers immense
psychological damage. An
otherwise friendly and docile dog,
when kept continuously chained,
becomes neurotic, unhappy,
anxious, and often aggressive.

 In many cases, the necks

of chained dogs become
raw and covered with
sores, the result of
improperly fitted collars
and the dogs' constant
yanking and straining to
escape confinement.
Some chained dogs have
collars embedded in their
necks, the result of years
of neglect at the end of a
chain.

Affects on Children
Dogs tethered for long periods can become
highly aggressive. Dogs feel naturally
protective of their territory; when confronted
with a perceived threat, they respond
according to their fight-or-flight instinct. A
chained dog, unable to take flight, often
feels forced to fight, attacking any unfamiliar
animal or person who unwittingly wanders
into his or her territory.

 Tragically, the victims of such attacks are

often children who are unaware of the
chained dog's presence until it is too
late. Furthermore, a tethered dog who
finally does get loose from his chains
may remain aggressive, and is likely to
chase and attack unsuspecting
passersby and pets.

Affects On Dogs
In addition to the psychological damage
wrought by continuous chaining, dogs
forced to live on a chain make easy targets
for other animals, humans, and biting
insects. A chained animal may suffer
harassment and teasing from insensitive
humans, stinging bites from insects, and
attacks by other animals.

 Dogs' tethers can

become entangled with
other objects, which
can choke or strangle
the dogs to death.

 Chained dogs are also easy

targets for thieves looking to
steal animals for sale to
research institutions or to be
used as training for organized
animal fights.

 Dogs should be kept indoors at night, taken

on regular walks, and otherwise provided
with adequate attention, food, water, and
veterinary care. If an animal must be
housed outside at certain times, he should
be placed in a suitable pen with adequate
square footage and shelter from the
elements.

Laws
In January, Virginia
Beach City Council
made tethering dogs
for more than three
hours illegal.
Hampton, Suffolk and
Williamsburg follow
state law that allows
tethering but requires
dog owners to provide
enough food, water
and shelter and
enough chain.

 Norfolk prohibits people from leaving their

dogs tied up longer than 12 hours.
The number of cities and counties with dog
tethering laws increased nationwide from 41
in 2002 to 68 today.

Remember Us

Thousands Of Dogs Were

Found Tied Or Chained After
Hurricanes Katrina And Wilma

You Can Help

Bring your dog inside!

Call your local animal control office .
Put up a fence.
Replace ill-fitting, old collars.
Provide food and fresh water EVERY day.
Provide proper shelter.
Give your dog toys and rawhides.

 Take your dog on walks!

Provide your dog with flea treatment,
heartworm preventative, and annual
worming.
Protect your dog from winter cold.
Provide shade in the summer.
Change the law.
Educate people about chaining!

Bring Your
Dog Inside!

More Information

www.dogsdeservebetter.com
Mothersagainstdogchaining.com
Unchainyourdog.org