The Chaining Of Dogs

Yesterday, JACK posted on his Facebook a comment that a dog should never be chained anytime or anywhere. JACK went so far as to say that if you can’t afford a fence, then you can’t afford to take care of a dog. This comment very quickly sparked a lot of responses by many of JACK’s Facebook friends that were overwhelmingly in favor of JACK’s quick opinion.

One person did disagree with JACK saying she had a fence, but her dog still escaped but she allowed the dog a 30 foot tether to move about the yard and she saw nothing wrong with that.

The Humane Society of the United States claims that tethering a dog can cause the animal to become highly aggressive. Dogs have a natural protection of their territory and will basically fight or take flight. A dog on a tether has no choice in flight, so he will fight thus creating a danger to humans and other animals.

There are numerous cases on record of a tethered dog attacking humans and tragically many times it is a child who wandered unwittingly in to the dog’s territory. In many cases, a dog that is tethered may still be aggressive if the tether is ever broken and will sometimes attack people and other animals.

The danger to the dog that is tethered is also just as treacherous. A tethered dog is at risk of becoming an easy target for humans, other animals and biting insects. Chained dogs are also easy prey for thieves looking to steal dogs either for abusive breeding purposes and cruel animal testing.

Lastly, a dog that is tethered is in danger of having that tether wrapped around its neck or other object that can pose a possible death for the dog. In the heat of a hot Victoria summer, many times a dog will not have access to shade or fresh water because of the entangled tether.

Dogs are in essence a naturally social being that thrives on interaction with humans and other animals. A dog that is tethered in one spot for hours, days, months or even years suffers immense psychological damage. When kept continuously tethered, a normal friendly dog can become neurotic, depressed, anxious and yes, usually aggressive.

In July of 1996, the United States Department of Agriculture issued this statement: “Our experience in enforcing the Animal Welfare Act has led us to conclude that continuous confinement of dogs by a tether is inhumane. A tether significantly restricts a dog's movement. A tether can also become tangled around or hooked on the dog's shelter structure or other objects, further restricting the dog's movement and potentially causing injury."

The Humane Society of the United States recommends that a dog should live indoors as part of the family. They should be taken on regular walks, fed and watered properly and have regular veterinarian care available to them. The Human Society of the United States further states “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.”

Based on comments made to JACK and other publications, many community animal control departments receive calls of concern over tethered and chained animals, fearing abuse to the dog. There are many areas in Victoria city limits proper that dogs are restrained inhumanely that can be seen from public streets and thoroughfares. JACK worries what is going on behind the fences as well.