Unchained heart: Tethering bad for dogs and owners

A dog is not meant to spend its life on a chain.

Both short- and long-term chaining poses serious dangers to dogs and humans.

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) defines chaining as the practice of fastening a dog to a stationary object or stake, usually in the owner’s backyard, as a means of keeping the animal under control. According to the HSUS, the practice is both inhumane and a threat to the safety of the confined dog, other animals and humans.

The ideal situation for a dog would be to live indoors with its owner with outdoor exercise provided. If this is not possible, a dog should be given a proper outdoor shelter contained in a pen or kennel or fenced in yard.

Dogs are social by nature, and their lives are jeopardized by prolonged chaining and/or tethering due to the isolation.

“What we know is that your dog wants to be with you more than anything in the world. Your dog is lonely on a chain,” according to Dawn Ashby, public liaison for Dogs Deserve Better, a national anti-chaining group.

Dog owners use chaining for different reasons. Some do not have a fenced in yard or pen and, therefore, elect to chain their dogs for a limited amount of time daily. This occasional use of chaining may limit exercise, but it does provide the dog with some time outdoors.

However, even if they are only chained for short periods of time, all dogs on a chain are at risk of being attacked by other wandering dogs, harassed by insensitive humans or stolen by passersby. There is also risk of entanglement, as chains can become hooked on nearby objects, possibly causing a dog to accidentally hang itself.

Other dog owners chain their dogs to serve as outdoor guard dogs or simply non-household pets. A dog, such as this, chained for extended periods of time runs the risk of developing dangerous behaviors. Continuous chaining creates anxiety and extreme aggression in dogs, as they strive to claim ownership of their confined territory. Dog bites occur more frequently, particularly in children, when dogs are chained.

These dogs are exposed to extreme weather conditions, do not always have proper food, water, or shelter, and rarely receive veterinary care. Infection and disease are common with extended chaining because over time, the ground in which they dwell can become worn-free of grass, and they are left to eat, sleep, and defecate in the same small area, which is frequently muddy.

Embedded collars and raw necks pose additional threats for dogs when owners either fail to mind the growth of their dog, the collar is not properly fitted, or the dogs’ pulling to escape confinement results in infection to the neck.

Awareness is crucial to the survival of chained dogs. Insightfully stated, Victoria Stilwell, host of Animal Planet’s “It’s Me or the Dog,” recently reported to USA Today, “The key is to see the world from the dog’s point of view if we want to understand why dogs behave as they do. Only then can we truly identify the root cause of the behavior and humanely solve the problem using positive reinforcement.”

Unfortunately, there is no ordinance against chaining in Lynchburg. For additional information, please contact Lynchburg Animal Control (434) 847-1602 or visit:

-www.dogsdeservebetter.com

-‘The End of the Chain?’ by James Hettinger http://tinyurl.com/nsv6le

-‘The Facts about Chaining or Tethering Dogs,’ Humane Society of the United States, www.hsus.org

Elliott is a board member of the Lynchburg Humane Society.