What’s wrong with chaining
If you have any doubt that chaining is a cruel, inhumane long term from of neglect/abuse, as well as a public safety hazard….please educate yourself!
Collaborative Study on Chained Dogs Published by Animal Protection of New Mexico and New Mexico Department of Public Safety http://apnm.org/campaigns/chaining/report.php
HSUS link http://www.humanesociety.org/assets/pdfs/pets/chaining-quotes.pdf
PETA link http://www.peta.org/issues/companion-animals/why-chained-dogs-attack.aspx
Victoria Stillwell article in USA Today – http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/lifestyle/pets/2009-08-12-stilwell-dog-chains_N.htm
Chained dogs are 371% more likely to bite & they are naturally conditioned to protect their space.
http://www.peta.org/issues/companion-animal-issues/cruel-practices/chaining-dogs/ : lots of detailed info in right margin.
This is who we are & this is what we do. Some call us insane smile emoticon Weve been called worse. Kudos to the LV ACO that finally stood up for the anti tethering ordinance that went into effect in 2013. Thank you. #UNchainYourDog www.nmdog.org
Excerpts from a contact form submitted to NMDOG from a Las Vegas, NM citizen:
“You guys are insane about not chaining dogs i have one that is in a fence and she cant be let off the chain unless im with her because she will kill other animals she jumps the fence. My dog jumps fences and people are letting there dogs run loose so dog catcher takes them. our Chihuahua got out of my front gate and dog catcher told me that he had to be confined to restrain my dog and now there saying that oh my god they cant be chained thats abuse. all the dogs are walkin the streets and my son he rides his bike around town and ever sense this law hase past he has not been going around as much becouse dogs are loose so go after the peopl who abuse there animals not us”
NMDOG response:
Hi ________!
Thank you for contacting us. Yes, we are insane about UNchaining dogs. There are a lot of reasons chaining is bad. You actually mentioned some of them. I hope that you will find this information helpful.
Dogs Like to be Around People. Dogs are very social animals. They are happiest when they get to be around their people.
They want to be part of family or pack because this is their instinct.
People + Dog = Pack/Family heart emoticon
Dogs depend on their people for everything: food, water, shelter, love/affection, fun, & vet care. An inside dog gets to be close to their people. They get to feel safe and protected. A dog on a chain is kept away from their family and unprotected from animals and people. http://www.unchainyourdog.org/Facts.htm
My Dog Jumps the Fence:
There are many reasons why a dog may jump the fence. Chained dogs and yard dogs live in a very small world. It can be very lonely for them. The bottom-line is that for your dog, there is something better on the other side of that fence. Common problems with dogs that jump the fence are not enough exercise, not enough attention from their people, and boredom. A simple daily leash walk around the neighborhood would help a lot. Again, there are A LOT of reasons why your dog might be jumping the fence. This link lists some helpful ideas about what might be going on: http://www.paw-rescue.org/P…/PETTIPS/DogTip_FenceJumping.php
Below are a couple of very easy DIY ways to discourage fence jumping & check this out! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1uCQdtJFIk
Search for easy DIY Coyote roller links on google!
My Dog is Loved not Abused:
This may be true for your dog(s), but it is not true for most dogs that live on a chain. A chained dog is what we call “kept out of sight, out of mind.” They are Forgotten. They live outside waiting for their people. Often they do not have enough food, water, and veterinary care; their emotional and social needs get ignored. Also, chained dogs rarely have proper shelter to protect them from freezing winter nights or sizzling summer days. It gets worse. A chained dog is very vulnerable. Many are stolen, set on fire, shot, stabbed, tortured, or poisoned by cruel passersby or neighbors who were annoyed by their barking. These are examples of severe abuse. Sadly, we have seen all of this. This is why we encourage guardians to keep their dog(s) safe- inside the home as part of the family.
Dogs that are Chained and Dogs that Chase:
A chained dog is more likely to bite because they are usually unsocialized – they live on a chain in a yard. They don’t get to go on walks or go for car rides. They don’t get to meet new people or other animals. If someone or something comes into their space, they are trapped and afraid- they can’t escape. A chained dog has only a few square feet of living space, which heightens their territoriality. This is when we hear about bites and attacks.
Chasing is a natural instinct for dogs. It is one of the many ways they have fun. Usually a few minutes in the yard with their people and a game of fetch with a ball is enough to satisfy their drive to chase. This means they get to be with their family, have fun, and do something they naturally enjoy- Why would they want to leave? What if the dog that lives on a chain or in a yard gets out? They haven’t been able to chase, so it makes sense that they might chase someone or something… like a kid riding a bike, a neighbor’s dog, or a car.
Dogs running at large in my neighborhood:
The problem of free roaming dogs in Las Vegas was a problem far before the anti tethering ordinance went into effect in 2013 & still is. But this is a people problem, not a dog problem. When a person takes the responsibility to be the guardian of a dog, they take on the responsibility to keep their dog safely & humanely contained. Also to have their dog spayed or neutered to prevent more unwanted, free roaming dogs from being born. When a person does not take the responsibility of dog guardianship seriously, its not only the animals…but the entire community that suffers. This is an issue that could easily be put into check with mandatory spay/neuter laws & enforcement of the existing laws on the books. It is also an issue that should be taken up with your local officials, encouraging them to make animal welfare & public safety a priority.
At the end of the day, we just want dogs and their people to live a GREAT life and enjoy each other’s company. They have the potential to bring so much joy into our lives & should be given the opportunity to live up to that potential. Dogs are by definition, companion animals. NMDOG works with individual dog guardians and communities to help achieve this.
Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns. We’re here to help heart emoticon
Partial from a chained dog report
Folks…this is WHY we do what we do!!
“When I look out the window in my back door, I often see a sad bulldog. It’s sitting by it’s little doghouse, patiently waiting for someone to come and take him for a walk. He’s chained with about a 10 foot chain, to his little area. The yard is fenced, but I guess he can get out, so the owner has chosen to put him on a chain.
I can’t help but feel sorry for him. I’m not sure why folks get big dogs like this, then leave them outside on short-leashes?
Anyway, lately I’ve been seeing that he has a little buddy, a little gray squirrel who sits atop the doghouse and looks at him. He pays the dog regular visits, and they play a little game, a dangerous game for the squirrel, where the dog leaps toward him, and he launches himself into the trees just above. Then the dog sits back down, and the squirrel comes back down, and sadly looks at his imprisoned, dog friend. It’s like he knows how sad it is for the dog’s life to be so limited. I wonder if the dog would even hurt him, were he to actually catch him, or know what he’d lose, without his little buddy to play with, if he did.”
A Case Study: JR
We first met JR in March 2013, when we received a report about some dogs chained in Valencia County. We visited the location and made contact with the guardian. There were two dogs on the property chained with very heavy chains. They appeared thin and starved for human contact. The guardian of the dogs was hesitant to speak with us and not open to receiving any help for the dogs. We were able to talk him into accepting a doghouse for the dog that lacked shelter, but were never even told the dogs’ names. We named them JR (the Heeler) and Dallas (the German Shepherd). We were not allowed to put them on lightweight cables and harnesses to replace the heavy chains. We left food for them, even though we were told not to. We were also told not to come back. But we drove by when we could to check on them and quietly left food. In Valencia County, it is legal to chain and tether your dogs. The laws state the bare necessities should be provided: food, water and shelter, but often times this goes unenforced. NMDOG does outreach in Valencia County and it is by far the location of some of the most heartbreaking work we do.
Nine months later, it was brought to our attention that JR was in bad shape. Barely able to walk or stand and in a severe amount of pain, he was picked up immediately and taken to our vet. I couldn’t even believe this was the same dog. He was extremely thin, atrophied and any spark in his eyes was gone, completely gone 🙁 We did extensive X-rays looking for an injury that would explain the swift deterioration and what we found was alarming. The vertebrae in JR’s neck were fused, which likely explained the neurological dysfunction and intense pain he was experiencing. When we first met JR, he was what I would consider “typical” of a three-year old chained dog and in the “typical” OK but not great physical condition. He did not display any symptoms of pain or neurological issues. Fast forward nine months and JR looked like a geriatric dog: unable to walk or stand on his own. Upon first glance, you would now think JR was at least 12, 13, 14 years old. He is not. He is only three. But the damage done to his skeletal system at the end of that chain was so severe, there was little to no chance of recovery.
Our amazing TEAM at Good Shepherd Animal Clinic and Animal Crackers welcomed him as a temporary resident of the clinic and took great care in making sure he was comfortable. They loved on him, talked sweet to him, encouraged him to get up and move around, and provided him with the creature comforts he was denied before. JR was now a special needs dog, and we knew of one special place that would suit JR and his needs: Kindred Spirits Animal Sanctuary in Santa Fe. We knew the chances of him being accepted were slim due to his age (he was too young!) but we also knew Ulla’s incredible heart… Well, they welcomed JR with open arms! We cannot put into words the gratitude we felt, the relief in knowing JR would have a magical place to spend the rest of his days. A place of safety, security, excellent care and unconditional love!
JR spent the best two and a half weeks of his life at Kindred Spirits. On February 5, 2014 our brave little boy went to the Rainbow Bridge. His little body was just too broken to last any longer…
We are immeasurably grateful to Ulla and her loving staff and volunteers at Kindred Spirits. JR will not be forgotten. He will forever live on in our work. His life and death cannot be in vain.
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