Tethering

A Lonely and Miserable Existance for Too Many Dogs

A Lonely and Miserable Existance

Dog tethering is the act of restraining a dog by tying or chaining him to a stationary object for long periods of times. Many times, the dog is chained for his entire life. These dogs eventually become aggressive and pose a threat to the unsuspecting public. More communities are beginning to recognize this as dog abuse and laws are being passed to regulate the practice. However, in many communities, chaining a dog in the yard is still acceptable.

Why Chaining a Dog is Cruel

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Dogs are social animals and need to be part of a pack. When a dog is forced to live his life within a 10 foot radius of a tree or fence post, he suffers psychological trauma. Initially a restrained dog may bark in an attempt to get attention. He feels lonely and isolated. Eventually he quiets and gives up. A restrained dog is not socialized with other animals or humans. As time passes, these dogs become territorial of their small space in this world. They will attack when they feel threatened. This threat could be a rabbit or a small child that wanders into the sleeping dogs’ space. Chained dogs are responsible for hundreds of dog bites each year. Some attacks are fatal.

An owner that has no problem with chaining a dog is not likely to provide basic care for the dog. In addition to the isolation and mental cruelty that these dogs endure, they typically are victims of other neglect. It is easy to forget about the chained dog in the back yard. They are usually not fed regularly and aren’t given access to fresh water. They must survive the blistering sun and heat in the middle of summer and the frigid cold and snow in the middle of winter. They often suffer from untreated medical conditions including flea and tick infestations. Some suffer from deep wounds caused by embedded collars.

Addressing the Problem

Chaining or otherwise restraining a dog for long periods is animal cruelty. If you know of a dog in your neighborhood that is currently living like this, check with your city or county to understand the current laws. If the practice is banned or restricted, you can file a complaint with your local police department or animal control division. If it is not banned or restricted, you can still file a complaint with animal control if the dog is being neglected in some other way such as not having proper food or shelter. You can also approach the owner and attempt to educate him on why tethering is cruel to the dog. He may surprise you and decide to welcome the dog into his home.

Additional Resources

Following are additonal resources on chaining or tethering a dog. These sites provide additional information on current laws in place and steps you can take to ban this practice in your community.

Unchain Your Dog

Dogs Deserve Better

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