Don't Let Another Dog Get Chained Up in Your Town
- by: Care2
- recipient: National League of Cities
Walk your city streets, and you're bound to see helpless dogs left to spend their entire lives in "solitary confinement," trapped at the end of a chain or in a small pen. For a social pack animal, there's no crueler punishment.
The practice of chaining, also called tethering, is not only an inhumane way to treat these trusting, loving companions; its a danger to the public. Chained dogs are nearly three times more likely to attack than dogs not tethered, and children are most often the victims of these attacks.
Chaining dogs is cruel and dangerous. Dogs are members of the family, not old bicycles, lawn ornaments or furry alarm systems.
More than 80 cities and two states have already enacted restrictions on chaining and the suffering it causes, but all cities need to take part.
Tell the National League of Cities to introduce and/or support ordinances that ban or severely restrict tethering. Remind them to strengthen all local animal protection laws. Don't let another dog suffer from the cruelty of chaining in anyones backyard again!
The practice of chaining, also called tethering, is not only an inhumane way to treat these trusting, loving companions; its a danger to the public. Chained dogs are nearly three times more likely to attack than dogs not tethered, and children are most often the victims of these attacks.
Chaining dogs is cruel and dangerous. Dogs are members of the family, not old bicycles, lawn ornaments or furry alarm systems.
More than 80 cities and two states have already enacted restrictions on chaining and the suffering it causes, but all cities need to take part.
Dear National League of Cities,
Because of a practice known as animal tethering, "man's best friend" suffers needlessly and has risked becoming a danger to the public in many communities. In this year alone, at least six children have died from tethered dog injuries, and another 13 have sustained serious injuries from chained dog attacks.
Please work to put in place ordinances that ban or severely restrict tethering. Many communities across the United States have already passed legislation prohibit the tethering animals for the following reasons:
- Federal health and veterinary experts agree that chaining causes attacks. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Task Force on Canine Aggression and Human-Canine Interactions explicitly advises, "Never tether or chain your dog, because this can contribute to aggressive behavior."
- Chained Dogs are nearly three times more likely to attack than dogs not tethered. According to a study partly authored by two Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) physicians, chained dogs were 2.8 times more likely to attack than dogs who were not tethered.
- Children are the most common victims of chained-dog attacks. According to research presented by Karen Delise, author of "Fatal Dog Attacks," 79 percent of the 431 people killed by dogs in the United States between 1965 and 2001 were children under the age of 12.
[Your comment here]
In addition to having their social needs ignored, many chained dogs are deprived of proper food and water, shelter, and veterinary care. And chained dogs -- like all animals who are left outside and unsupervised -- are susceptible to the violent acts of passersby. Please make sure our communities are safe for the people and dogs who live here.
Sincerely,
[Your name here]
[Your address here]
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