Companion Connection

Articles of Interest

owners' property at the time of the attack, and the book Fatal Dog Attacks states that 25% of fatal attacks were inflicted by chained dogs of many different breeds.

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

 
But how else can people confine dogs?  If an animal must be housed outside at certain times, he should be placed in a suitable pen with adequate square footage and shelter from the elements.

 
Why is tethering dogs inhumane?  Dogs are naturally social beings which thrive on interaction with human beings and other animals.   A dog kept chained alone in one spot for hours, days, months, or even years suffers immense psychological damage. An otherwise friendly and docile dog, when kept continuously chained, becomes neurotic, unhappy, anxious, and often aggressive. In many cases, the necks of chained dogs become raw and covered with sores, the result of improperly fitted collars and the dogs' constant yanking and straining to escape confinement. Some chained dogs have collars embedded in their necks, the result of years of neglect at the end of a chain.

  
Who says permanent tethering is bad?  In a May 2003 press release for Dog Bite Prevention Week, the American Veterinary Medical Association states, "Never tether or chain your dog because this can contribute to aggressive behavior."   A study by the Centers for Disease Control, "Which Dogs Bite?" found that chained dogs are 2.8 times more likely to bite. The dogs most likely to bite are male, unneutered, and chained.

 
 

Tethering or Chaining Dogs Pose a Danger to Humans

"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated...

I hold that, the more helpless a creature, the more entitled it is to protection by man from the cruelty of man." -Mahatma Gandhi-

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

 

Numerous attacks on people by tethered dogs have been documented. The Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association reported that 17% of dogs involved in fatal attacks on humans between 1979 and 1998 were restrained on their

At the End of the Line*

 

At the end of the line,
It's a lonely place,
Why even have me if this is the case?

 

At the end of the line,
There can be no joy
A pile of rocks for my only toy.

 

At the end of the line,
No pat on the head
A bowl full of food, if I'm lucky, instead.

 

At the end of the line,
No people to greet,
Although I'd be friendly to all that I'd meet.

 

At the end of the line,
A cold hard wet floor,
If I were inside, I could guard your door.

 

At the end of the line,
I just wonder why,
Is this really the way that you chose me to die?

 

~Lisa Stocks 9/13/200

 

Dogs Deserve Better saved Doogie from lingering death, but not without consequences.   Read more.