dogs deserve better

Dogs Deserve BetterDogs Deserve Better

Than Life On A ChainThan Life On A Chain

ImagineImagine

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

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

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

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

Humans in this country used to Humans in this country used to be kept in chains while waiting be kept in chains while waiting to be sold at slave auctions. to be sold at slave auctions. Slaves were treated as "objects" Slaves were treated as "objects" without feelings. Some slaves without feelings. Some slaves were tortured by cruel owners.were tortured by cruel owners.

Similarly, some people now Similarly, some people now keep dogs in chains and treat keep dogs in chains and treat them as "objects" without them as "objects" without feelings. Dog fighters torture feelings. Dog fighters torture dogs in terribly cruel ways to dogs in terribly cruel ways to make them mean.make them mean.

The FactsThe Facts

““Dogs thrive on human companionship. Dogs thrive on human companionship. Dogs outside don't get a lot of time Dogs outside don't get a lot of time socializing with people." socializing with people."

““There is not much of a life on the end of a There is not much of a life on the end of a chain." chain."

““Chaining” or “Tethering”Chaining” or “Tethering” These terms refer to the practice of These terms refer to the practice of

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

Why Is Chaining Inhumane?Why Is Chaining Inhumane? Dogs are naturally Dogs are naturally

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

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

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

Affects on ChildrenAffects on Children

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

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

Affects On DogsAffects On Dogs

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

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

Chained dogs are also easy Chained dogs are also easy targets for thieves looking to targets for thieves looking to steal animals for sale to steal animals for sale to research institutions or to be research institutions or to be used as training for organized used as training for organized animal fights. animal fights.

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

LawsLaws In January, Virginia In January, Virginia

Beach City Council Beach City Council made tethering dogs made tethering dogs for more than three for more than three hours illegal. hours illegal.

Hampton, Suffolk and Hampton, Suffolk and Williamsburg follow Williamsburg follow state law that allows state law that allows tethering but requires tethering but requires dog owners to provide dog owners to provide enough food, water enough food, water and shelter and and shelter and enough chainenough chain. .

Norfolk prohibits people from leaving their Norfolk prohibits people from leaving their dogs tied up longer than 12 hours.dogs tied up longer than 12 hours.

The number of cities and counties with dog The number of cities and counties with dog tethering laws increased nationwide from 41 tethering laws increased nationwide from 41 in 2002 to 68 today. in 2002 to 68 today.

Remember UsRemember Us

Thousands Of Dogs Were Thousands Of Dogs Were Found Tied Or Chained After Found Tied Or Chained After Hurricanes Katrina And WilmaHurricanes Katrina And Wilma

You Can HelpYou Can Help

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

Take your dog on walks!Take your dog on walks! Provide your dog with flea treatment, Provide your dog with flea treatment,

heartworm preventative, and annual heartworm preventative, and annual worming.worming.

Protect your dog from winter coldProtect your dog from winter cold.. Provide shade in the summerProvide shade in the summer.. Change the lawChange the law.. Educate people about chaining!Educate people about chaining!

Bring Your Bring Your Dog Inside!Dog Inside!

More InformationMore Information

www.dogsdeservebetter.comwww.dogsdeservebetter.com Mothersagainstdogchaining.comMothersagainstdogchaining.com Unchainyourdog.orgUnchainyourdog.org