Chained Dogs: A Widespread, Serious Public Safety Threat

Chained Dogs Are Loaded Weapons
We must commit to keeping dogs inside our homes for their entire 15- to 20-year lives or else not acquire them at all.

Here's a chilling fact from government statistics: Chained dogs kill as many children as do some firearms, and more than falls from trees, playground equipment and fireworks accidents put together. Since last July, 52 people, including 33 children, have been attacked by chained dogs or those who have broken their tethers. Four kids, one just 34 days old, were killed in the attacks.

These tragic statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, compiled for 2002, the last year for which complete statistics are available, prove what decent people have said all along: It's time to ban the dangerous, cruel practice of chaining dogs, for our children's sake as well as the dogs'.

In May, after a chained dog killed a Spartanburg County, S.C., child (the third such incident in two years in the county), one county official said that he considered a chained dog to be "just like a loaded gun" and suggested that their attacks are inevitable. He's right, and that's because tethering violates dogs' nature.

Dogs are pack and territorial animals, and—like us—they are "fight or flight" animals. Virtually every chained dog goes mad to some degree in solitary confinement. A chained dog grows more protective of the tiny plot that he or she is left to eat, sleep, defecate, and urinate in. Prevented from fleeing by chains sometimes weighing half their body weight, these dogs respond in the only way they can when they believe someone is threatening their territory—they attack. When children, who are usually unaware of the danger, wander too close, their lives are in danger.

Neglected Dogs, Kids
A close look at the CDC's statistics shows that chaining dogs can transform backyards from a place of fun and relaxation for all family members—human and animal—into one of gruesome death and frustrated suffering. Dogs kept tied up killed 33 percent more children than did falls and fireworks accidents together. As many kids perished at the feet of ignored dogs as did the sum of those who died of bites by scorpions, hornets, wasps, bees, venomous snakes, lizards, and spiders.

Forgotten dogs robbed just one less American child of his or her promising life in 2002 than did neglectful parents. Similarly, the hardships endured by neglected children—little food and water, inadequate shelter and care, and little or no love and attention—are suffered by millions of dogs outside American homes for their entire miserable lives. In many cases, these defenseless beings languish right next to one another.

Our society works to keep children safe from many of these dangers. We have laws to protect children from neglectful parents and fireworks. Those who carelessly leave loaded firearms within kids' reach learn their lesson in court. Now we must be equally vigilant about the chaining of dogs. We must urge our municipal or county officials to ban or severely restrict this form of torture.

As a South Roxana, Illinois, official said after the village discussed becoming the 70th American jurisdiction to pass such legislation, "This is something that needs to be done for the safety of the public and the animals."

We must commit to keeping dogs inside our homes for their entire 15- to 20-year lives or else not acquire them at all. We must diligently work with our neighbors and, if need be, law enforcement officers to parole chained and innocent dogs from their life sentences in shackles.

Dan Paden works for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, 501 Front St., Norfolk, VA 23510; HelpingAnimals.com.

How to Make Your Community a Safer Place for Dogs and Children
Caring people like you have gradually changed and saved these animals' lives. You, too, can create miracles for neglected dogs in your community! Remember, the dogs are depending on you for their voice and for a shot at a better life. Check out the resources here, and get started!

Break the Chain of Cruelty and Danger: Work on an Anti-Tethering Ordinance
Working with elected representatives to pass ordinances that ban or restrict tethering is the most effective way to help chained dogs. Make your community a safer place for dogs and humans both. Read the laws other communities have passed and get started on changing your area for the better!

Helping an Individual Dog: Use Common Sense and Consider Your Options
There are two basic ways to improve a backyard dog's life. For some dogs, calling law enforcement agencies will be helpful or necessary. For others, it will be up to you to build a relationship with the dog's guardian and get permission to visit and care for the animal. Every case will be different, so carefully assess a situation before you get started. For example, a dog's guardian might not let you help the animal if authorities have investigated and have left the dog in the situation. Similarly, not calling animal control or the police if the animal's life is in imminent danger may be fatal, despite your best efforts to help him or her.

Call Authorities If a Dog's Life Is in Imminent Danger or If Chaining Is Illegal
Unless your county or city has a law addressing chained or penned dogs—see the list of such places or look up your local laws at the library or Municode.com—people are allowed to keep dogs chained or penned outside in all weather. But like any other animal, backyard dogs must have shelter, adequate food, and clean water and be provided with veterinary care if sick or injured.

If a backyard dog is in imminent danger—if he or she has no shelter or cannot access it, is very thin, obviously ill, or injured—you should notify authorities immediately. Refer to our guide to what to do if you spot cruelty to animals for how to proceed.

Law enforcement officials are unlikely to remove a dog from the situation unless his or her life is truly in danger. It's better to be on the safe side, of course, but don't call authorities for non-emergency backyard dog cases—the dog will probably stay put and the guardians will be less likely to allow you to visit or help the dog after that.

Work With Guardians to Help Backyard Dogs in Non-Emergency Situations
If the situation is not an emergency, your best chance to help the dog is probably to become friends with the dog's guardians.

Whatever you do, don't criticize the dog's owners. Anything other than a polite approach will probably make them angry and ruin your chances of helping the dog. You may be pleasantly surprised when the dog's guardian helps the animal him- or herself after just one conversation with you.

Visit DogsDeserveBetter.com and UnchainYourDog.org for tips on working with owners.

Begin by talking to an owner about what his or her dog needs:

Dogs crave companionship. They aim to please their guardians and really want to spend time with them and live with them indoors. Dogs are healthiest and happiest when they live inside with the rest of the family.
Dogs left outside need a sturdy shelter to protect them from rain, snow, cold, and wind and also provide shade in the summer. Plastic houses or barrels are better than nothing, but they offer little protection from the cold and heat up quickly in the summer. Waterproofed, sealed wooden houses with floors elevated a few inches off the ground and with flaps over the entrance are better. Houses should be small enough to allow a dog's body heat to warm the inside but big enough to allow the dog to get inside, stand up, turn around and lie down.
When the temperature drops below 45°F, straw (available at feed stores) must be stuffed inside the doghouse to keep the dog warm. Blankets, clothing, and towels are useless as bedding because they get wet and freeze.
Dogs need an adequate amount of food every day. Food should be provided in a dry, clean dish, not tossed on the ground. Remind the dog's owner to give the dog more food in the winter, when they need to eat more in order to keep warm.
Dogs need fresh water every day. Water should be placed in a heavy bucket or an anchored bowl to prevent it from tipping over. Water helps prevent heat exhaustion in the summer and must also be checked frequently in the winter to make sure that it hasn't frozen—dogs will die of dehydration without water.
Backyard dogs should be checked regularly for fleas, mites, and worms. Such parasites rob them of essential nutrition and can make even a dog who constantly eats thin.

While you work with the dog's owner to ensure the animal's physical health, don't forget to give the dog some attention and play time too. A happy dog has toys, goes for walks, and spends time with people. Here're some ideas:

Ask permission to take the dog for walks.
Offer some toys to the dog, with the owner's approval.
Visit the dog regularly but without making a nuisance of yourself.

Many dogs have eventually been given to neighbors or other people who have cared for them, all because of patient and friendly intervention. If you are offered or given a backyard dog, graciously accept the animal even if you cannot give him or her a permanent home. See our tips on how to find an animal a good home.

You can improve the lives of dogs and cats suffering from cruelty and neglect.

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