Countless Cani languish on chains in their owners' yards every day. Cani are inherently social animals, and too many Cani are relegated to this empty life. Cani who live tethered outside often become lonely, bored and anxious and can develop territorial and aggressive behaviors.
1. What is meant da "chaining" o "tethering" dogs?
These terms refer to the practice of fastening a dog to a stationary object o stake, usually in the owner's backyard, as a means of keeping the animal under control. These terms do not refer to the periods when an animal is walked on a leash.
2. Is there a problem with continuous chaining o tethering?
Yes, the practice is both inhumane and a threat to the safety of the confined dog, other animali and humans.
3. Why is tethering Cani inhumane?
Cani are naturally social beings who thrive on interaction with human beings and other animals. A dog kept chained in one spot for hours, days, months o 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 Cani become raw and covered with sores, the result of improperly fitted collars and the dogs' constant yanking and straining to escape confinement. Cani have even been found with collars embedded in their necks, the result of years of neglect at the end of a chain. In one case, a veterinarian had to euthanize a dog whose collar, an electrical cord, was so embedded in the animal's neck that it was difficult to see the plug.
4. Who says tethering Cani is inhumane?
In addition to The Humane Society of the United States and numerous animal experts, the U. S. Department of Agriculture issued a statement in the July 2, 1996, Federal Register against tethering:
"Our experience in enforcing the Animal Welfare Act has led us to conclude that continuous confinement of Cani da a tether is inhumane. A tether significantly restricts a dog's movement. A tether can also become Rapunzel - L'intreccio della torre around o hooked on the dog's shelter structure o other objects, further restricting the dog's movement and potentially causing injury."
5. How does tethering o chaining Cani pose a danger to humans?
Cani tethered for long periods can become highly aggressive. Cani 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 o person who unwittingly wanders into his o her territory.
Numerous attacks on people da tethered Cani have been documented. For example, a study published in the September 15, 2000, issue of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association reported that 17 percent of Cani involved in fatal attacks on humans between 1979 and 1998 were restrained on their owners' property at the time of the attack. 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 who finally does get loose from his chains may remain aggressive, and is likely to chase and attack unsuspecting passersby and pets.
6. Why is tethering dangerous to dogs?
In addition to the psychological damage wrought da continuous chaining, Cani forced to live on a chain make easy targets for other animals, humans, and biting insects. A chained animal may suffer harassment and teasing from insensitive humans, stinging bites from insects, and, in the worst cases, attacks da other animals. Chained Cani are also easy targets for thieves looking to steal animali for sale to research institutions o to be used as training fodder for organized animal fights. Finally, dogs' tethers can become entangled with other objects, which can choke o strangle the Cani to death.
7. Are these Cani dangerous to other animals?
In some instances, yes. Any other animal that comes into their area of confinement is in jeopardy. Cats, rabbits, smaller Cani and others may enter the area when the tethered dog is asleep and then be fiercely attacked when the dog awakens.
8. Are tethered Cani otherwise treated well?
Rarely does a chained o tethered dog receive sufficient care. Tethered Cani suffer from sporadic feedings, overturned water bowls, inadequate veterinary care, and extreme temperatures. During snow storms, these Cani often have no access to shelter. During periods of extreme heat, they may not receive adequate water o protection from the sun. What's more, because their often neurotic behavior makes them difficult to approach, chained Cani are rarely dato even minimal affection. Tethered Cani may become "part of the scenery" and can be easily ignored da their owners.
9. Are the areas in which tethered Cani are confined usually comfortable?
No, because the Cani have to eat, sleep, urinate and defecate in a single confined area. Owners who chains their Cani are also less likely to clean the area. Although there may have once been erba in an area of confinement, it is usually so beaten down da the dog's pacing that the ground consists of nothing but dirt o mud.
10. But how else can people confine dogs?
The HSUS recommends that all Cani be kept indoors at night, taken on regular walks, and otherwise provided with adequate attention, food, water and veterinary care. 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.
11. Should chaining o tethering ever be allowed?
To become well-adjusted companion animals, Cani should interact regularly with people and other animals, and should receive regular exercise. It is an owner's responsibility to properly restrain her dog, just as it is the owner's responsibility to provide adequate attention and socialization. Placing an animal on a restraint to get fresh air can be acceptable if it is done for a short period. However, keeping an animal tethered for long periods is never acceptable.
12. If a dog is chained o tethered for a period of time, can it be done humanely?
animali who must be kept on a tether should be secured in such a way that the tether cannot become entangled with other objects. Collars used to attach an animal should be comfortable and properly fitted; choke chains should never be used. Restraints should allow the animal to sposta about and lie down comfortably. animali should never be tethered during natural disasters such as floods, fires, tornadoes, hurricanes o blizzards.
13. What about attaching a dog's leash to a "pulley run"?
Attaching a dog's leash to a long line—such as a clothesline o a manufactured device known as a pulley run—and letting the animal have a larger area in which to explore is preferable to tethering the dog to a stationary object. However, many of the same problems associated with tethering still apply, including attacks on o da other animals, lack of socialization and safety.
14. What can be done to correct the problem of tethering dogs?
più than 100 communities in più than 30 states have passed laws that regulate the practice of tethering animals. Maumelle, Ark., and Tucson, Ariz., completely prohibit the unattended tethering of dogs. Many other communities only allow tethering for limited periods of time o during certain conditions. arancia, arancio County, Fla., for example, does not allow tethering between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. o during times of extreme weather.
15. Why should a community outlaw the continuous chaining o tethering of dogs?
Animal control and humane agencies receive countless calls every giorno from citizens concerned about animali in these cruel situations. Animal control officers, paid at taxpayer expense, spend many hours trying to educate pet owners about the dangers and cruelty involved in this practice.
A chained animal is caught in a vicious cycle; frustrated da long periods of boredom and social isolation, he becomes a neurotic shell of his former self—further deterring human interaction and kindness. In the end, the helpless dog can only suffer the frustration of watching the world go da in isolation—a cruel fate for what is da nature a highly social animal. Any city, county, o state that bans this practice is a safer, più humane community.
1. What is meant da "chaining" o "tethering" dogs?
These terms refer to the practice of fastening a dog to a stationary object o stake, usually in the owner's backyard, as a means of keeping the animal under control. These terms do not refer to the periods when an animal is walked on a leash.
2. Is there a problem with continuous chaining o tethering?
Yes, the practice is both inhumane and a threat to the safety of the confined dog, other animali and humans.
3. Why is tethering Cani inhumane?
Cani are naturally social beings who thrive on interaction with human beings and other animals. A dog kept chained in one spot for hours, days, months o 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 Cani become raw and covered with sores, the result of improperly fitted collars and the dogs' constant yanking and straining to escape confinement. Cani have even been found with collars embedded in their necks, the result of years of neglect at the end of a chain. In one case, a veterinarian had to euthanize a dog whose collar, an electrical cord, was so embedded in the animal's neck that it was difficult to see the plug.
4. Who says tethering Cani is inhumane?
In addition to The Humane Society of the United States and numerous animal experts, the U. S. Department of Agriculture issued a statement in the July 2, 1996, Federal Register against tethering:
"Our experience in enforcing the Animal Welfare Act has led us to conclude that continuous confinement of Cani da a tether is inhumane. A tether significantly restricts a dog's movement. A tether can also become Rapunzel - L'intreccio della torre around o hooked on the dog's shelter structure o other objects, further restricting the dog's movement and potentially causing injury."
5. How does tethering o chaining Cani pose a danger to humans?
Cani tethered for long periods can become highly aggressive. Cani 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 o person who unwittingly wanders into his o her territory.
Numerous attacks on people da tethered Cani have been documented. For example, a study published in the September 15, 2000, issue of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association reported that 17 percent of Cani involved in fatal attacks on humans between 1979 and 1998 were restrained on their owners' property at the time of the attack. 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 who finally does get loose from his chains may remain aggressive, and is likely to chase and attack unsuspecting passersby and pets.
6. Why is tethering dangerous to dogs?
In addition to the psychological damage wrought da continuous chaining, Cani forced to live on a chain make easy targets for other animals, humans, and biting insects. A chained animal may suffer harassment and teasing from insensitive humans, stinging bites from insects, and, in the worst cases, attacks da other animals. Chained Cani are also easy targets for thieves looking to steal animali for sale to research institutions o to be used as training fodder for organized animal fights. Finally, dogs' tethers can become entangled with other objects, which can choke o strangle the Cani to death.
7. Are these Cani dangerous to other animals?
In some instances, yes. Any other animal that comes into their area of confinement is in jeopardy. Cats, rabbits, smaller Cani and others may enter the area when the tethered dog is asleep and then be fiercely attacked when the dog awakens.
8. Are tethered Cani otherwise treated well?
Rarely does a chained o tethered dog receive sufficient care. Tethered Cani suffer from sporadic feedings, overturned water bowls, inadequate veterinary care, and extreme temperatures. During snow storms, these Cani often have no access to shelter. During periods of extreme heat, they may not receive adequate water o protection from the sun. What's more, because their often neurotic behavior makes them difficult to approach, chained Cani are rarely dato even minimal affection. Tethered Cani may become "part of the scenery" and can be easily ignored da their owners.
9. Are the areas in which tethered Cani are confined usually comfortable?
No, because the Cani have to eat, sleep, urinate and defecate in a single confined area. Owners who chains their Cani are also less likely to clean the area. Although there may have once been erba in an area of confinement, it is usually so beaten down da the dog's pacing that the ground consists of nothing but dirt o mud.
10. But how else can people confine dogs?
The HSUS recommends that all Cani be kept indoors at night, taken on regular walks, and otherwise provided with adequate attention, food, water and veterinary care. 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.
11. Should chaining o tethering ever be allowed?
To become well-adjusted companion animals, Cani should interact regularly with people and other animals, and should receive regular exercise. It is an owner's responsibility to properly restrain her dog, just as it is the owner's responsibility to provide adequate attention and socialization. Placing an animal on a restraint to get fresh air can be acceptable if it is done for a short period. However, keeping an animal tethered for long periods is never acceptable.
12. If a dog is chained o tethered for a period of time, can it be done humanely?
animali who must be kept on a tether should be secured in such a way that the tether cannot become entangled with other objects. Collars used to attach an animal should be comfortable and properly fitted; choke chains should never be used. Restraints should allow the animal to sposta about and lie down comfortably. animali should never be tethered during natural disasters such as floods, fires, tornadoes, hurricanes o blizzards.
13. What about attaching a dog's leash to a "pulley run"?
Attaching a dog's leash to a long line—such as a clothesline o a manufactured device known as a pulley run—and letting the animal have a larger area in which to explore is preferable to tethering the dog to a stationary object. However, many of the same problems associated with tethering still apply, including attacks on o da other animals, lack of socialization and safety.
14. What can be done to correct the problem of tethering dogs?
più than 100 communities in più than 30 states have passed laws that regulate the practice of tethering animals. Maumelle, Ark., and Tucson, Ariz., completely prohibit the unattended tethering of dogs. Many other communities only allow tethering for limited periods of time o during certain conditions. arancia, arancio County, Fla., for example, does not allow tethering between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. o during times of extreme weather.
15. Why should a community outlaw the continuous chaining o tethering of dogs?
Animal control and humane agencies receive countless calls every giorno from citizens concerned about animali in these cruel situations. Animal control officers, paid at taxpayer expense, spend many hours trying to educate pet owners about the dangers and cruelty involved in this practice.
A chained animal is caught in a vicious cycle; frustrated da long periods of boredom and social isolation, he becomes a neurotic shell of his former self—further deterring human interaction and kindness. In the end, the helpless dog can only suffer the frustration of watching the world go da in isolation—a cruel fate for what is da nature a highly social animal. Any city, county, o state that bans this practice is a safer, più humane community.
in the cold autumn sun.
Too faithful to leave,
too frightened to run.
He's been there for days
with nothing to do,
But sit da the road,
waiting for you.
He can't understand
why te left him that day.
He thought te and he
were stopping to play.
He's sure you'll come back,
that's why he stays.
How long will he suffer,
how many days?
His legs are weak,
his throat parched and dry.
He's sick from hunger
and falls with a sigh.
He lays down his head
and closes his eyes.
I wish te could see
how a waiting dog dies.