Making chaining your dog illegal in Oklahoma

We the undersigned are writing to you about an issue that has gone unaddressed for too long, that of the perpetually chained or penned, so-called "outside" or "backyard" dog. There is no sadder sight than these outcast, forlorn, forgotten animals, relegated to the status of lawn ornaments and virtually ignored by the family.

Many chained or penned dogs are seriously neglected. They lack fresh, unfrozen water,
adequate housing, hygiene and the most basic veterinary care, including vaccinations
required by law. Every winter such dogs are found frozen to death. At other times of the
year they may be left to starve until they die.

Chaining is not only inhumane for dogs, but has taken a severe toll on this nation%u2019s children. In the period from last October until this month, there have been at least 17 children killed or seriously injured by chained dogs across the country.

Chained dogs, unsocializedwith humans, can become very territorial of their tiny space, and any two year old who wanders into this space can be attacked and killed before adults can intervene. An attack in July of 2004 lead to the death of 2 year old Patricia J. Anderson in Cook County, Georgia. Patricia was attacked and killed by a bulldog mix chained behind the house of a family friend.

Furthermore, researchers are confirming the link between animal abuse and neglect and abuse and neglect of children and perpetration of future crimes.
I urge you to remedy this oversight which condemns dogs, the most loving and loyal of
animals, to lives of loneliness and deprivation. I ask that you introduce legislation to
prohibit the perpetual chaining and penning of dogs.

Austria is the latest nation to ban the chaining of dogs, completely prohibiting the practice. Connecticut is the first state in the nation to limit chaining, and Hawaii currently has a bill in committee. There are at least 50 communities or counties in at least 26 states with limits on chaining. Oklahoma needs to be a part of this growing movement to eliminate chaining of dogs.

The wording of model legislation is as follows:

Restraint: An animal is under restraint within the meaning of this chapter if it is controlled by means of a leash, or is sufficiently near the owner or handler to e under his direct control and is obedient to that person%u2019s command; or is on or within a vehicle being driven or parked; or is within a secure enclosure. Exceptions to restraint are as follows: Organized and lawful animal functions e.g. hunting, obedience training, field and water training, law enforcement or military training and/or in the pursuit of working or competing in those legal endeavors. When a dog is on the property of its owner of guardian it shall be secured when not supervised by a competent person. Ropes, chains, and the like shall not constitute adequate security under this ordinance.This ordinance specifies that a dog may not be chained in his or her own yard.

A. No person shall, at any time, fasten, chain, or tie any dog or cause such dog to be fastened, chained or tied while such dog is on the dog owner%u2019s property or on the property of the dog owner%u2019s landlord.

B. Any dogs confined within a fenced yard must have an adequate space for exercise based on a dimension of at least one hundred square feet. Provided, further that where dogs are kept or housed on property without a fenced yard, the owner of such dogs or persons having custody of such dogs shall provide an enclosure for such dogs meeting the one hundred square feet dimension. Such enclosure shall be constructed of chain link or similar type materials with all four sides enclosed. The enclosure shall be of sufficient height to prevent the dog from escaping from such enclosure. The top of such enclosure shall be covered with materials to provide the dog with shade and protection from the elements.