Unchain your Dog

January is known as Unchain a Dog Month, and it is a time to come to the rescue of chained up “backyard” dogs.  It is also a time to spread awareness about the damaging physical and psychological effects that chaining has on dogs.

What is Chaining?

“Chaining” and “tethering” both refer to tying a dog to a stationary object, thereby restricting the dog’s movement and leaving the dog unattended. 

Chaining, as the term implies, usually involves attaching the dog to a heavy chain. Tethering consists of restraining the dog with a light chain or rope.  Both chaining and tethering refer to unsupervised, long-term confinement.  Over the past decade, several states have enacted anti-tethering laws to protect animals from these harmful practices.

Dogs Can’t Speak our Language

Dogs may not speak our language, but they absolutely communicate, which is one of the reasons they have long made such perfect companion animals.  They can sense humans’ emotions, and they bond with their humans.  As most pet-parents know, all their canine companions truly want is approval and love. Well, that and a comfy dog bed or a warm spot on the couch to snuggle.  They won’t turn down a few treats, toys, or belly rubs either.  

Dogs thrive in the company of their loving humans.  Sadly, for a variety of reasons, many dogs spend their lives in backyards tethered to chains.   It’s hard for animal lovers to understand how someone can do this to Man’s Best Friend.  However, to help chained dogs, we must be willing to approach owners with information, ideas, and resources.

Here are a few reasons owners may tether their dogs:

• The owner does not know how to manage the dog’s behavior, and bringing the dog inside becomes challenging.
• The dog has escaped from the property, and the owner doesn’t know how else to confine the dog safely.
• A dog has chewed through lighter leads to escape, and the owner has put it on a heavier chain.
• The owner wants to protect the dog from something in another area of the yard (other pets, children, neighboring dogs).
• A landlord may not allow the owner to have dogs indoors.
• The owner may not have a fenced yard.
• The owner may not be aware of the physical and psychological dangers caused by tethering a dog.

Bring Dogs Indoors

If you see dogs left chained up outside, speak up.  You might not change the owners’ opinion, but you can certainly educate them as to why their pups are better off inside. Many owners who leave their dogs chained fail to consider the weather conditions.  Some dogs remain out in the heat for hours. Others face brutally cold winters outdoors.  Remember, if you are too hot or too cold, it is too hot or cold to leave a dog outdoors.

Not only is chaining a dog outside inhumane, but some communities have also learned the hard way that it is a public safety hazard.  

How you Can Help

You can help backyard dogs by being a voice for them.  If you see an animal being abused, neglected, or mistreated, call your local police department or animal control officer immediately. If local authorities do not respond, you can call PETA at 757-622-7382 or report animal cruelty directly through the link on their website.

Ways to Help

• Do not allow your dog to roam outdoors unattended.
• If you know dogs who spend the majority of time outdoors, provide them with extra food and water.  This is crucial in winter months since they are burning additional calories to keep themselves warm.
• Provide shelter and warm bedding for dogs who spend time outdoors.  Consider making or buying wooden doghouses (which retain heat better than plastic or metal).  Use straw as bedding since blankets and towels can freeze if they get wet.
• Let the owner know that if he or she is cold, his dog is probably even colder.
• If you know people with outside dogs, offer to walk or play with the dogs.
• If possible, allow the dog to come inside your home and warm up.
• Bring toys and treats to an outdoor dog.  This small act will mean the world to a lonely dog.
• If you have concerns about a specific dog, ask your local animal control officer to visit the owner.
• If your community doesn’t have anti-tethering laws, work with community officials to create local regulations.