Fourteenth Child Since October Seriously Injured/Killed
as a Result of Chained Dog Attacks
Press Release from www.DogsDeserveBetter.com
JULY 22, 2004--The Tuesday, July 20th attack is the latest in a long line of chained dog
attacks, and left 7 year old Willie Moore Jr. of Charlotte, North Carolina
seriously injured, with bites to the head.
Another attack last Thursday, July 15th, lead to the death of 2 year old
Patricia J. Anderson in Cook County, Georgia. Patricia was attacked and
killed by a bulldog mix who was chained behind a house owned by friends of
her mother.
Dogs Deserve Better, an organization working to get dogs off chains and into
the family, insists that itıs time American woke up to the dangers of
chaining a dog. Dogs are pack animals, and when left alone, chained, and unsocialized to humans, they often become angry; they can and do take this
anger out on the children who are unlucky enough to come too close.
Says Tammy Sneath Grimes, founder of Dogs Deserve Better, "How many children
have to die before people realize this is a serious and nationwide problem?
The chaining of dogs has been ongoing for generations in America, and this
outdated and irresponsible method of guardianship must stop. Much of Europe
has long eschewed the practice of dog chaining; Austria's recent nationwide
law prohibiting chaining comes to mind, and it's time America wake up and
catch up. Not only is it dangerous and cruel for the dog, but itıs dangerous
for any child unlucky enough to wander into the sphere created by an angry
dogıs chain."
Other nationwide attacks since October 2003:
June 6, Emma-Leigh Chambers-Allen, 5, New Mexico, seriously injured.
June 17, Kennedy Robinson, 20-months, Mississippi, seriously injured.
April 26, Emily Page Stinnett, 4, Kentucky, seriously injured.
April, Linda Wiegret, 14-months, Texas, seriously injured.
April, Mark Wilson, 8, Illinois, seriously injured.
April, Alani Black, 4, North Carolina, seriously injured.
February, Trusten Liddle, February saw 17-month-old, Hawaii, killed.
January, Kaitlyn Matthews, 5, Mississippi, seriously injured.
January, Nathan Roy Hill, 3, North Carolina, killed.
October 2003, Makayla Sinclair, 2, South Carolina, killed.
October 2003, Jonathan Shane Ivey, 4, Texas, seriously injured.
October 2003, Okleno King, 3, Mississippi, seriously injured.
Karen Delise, author of Fatal Dog Attacks, has researched and chronicled the
circumstances surrounding every fatal dog attack in the United States since
1965. "Chained dogs have killed at least 109 people. Of the 109 people, 99
were children that wandered into reach of a chained or similarly restrained
dog. Another 11 occurred from dogs who were chained and broke free before
attacking." She also states in her book: "Statistically, chained dogs are
more dangerous than free-running packs of dogs."
America needs nationwide laws prohibiting the chaining of dogs to the
nearest tree, post, or doghouse. Dogs Deserve Better has initiated a
national petition which currently has nearly 6,000 signatures. The petition
is available online at http://www.gopetition.com/online/4021.html, and will
be sent to the White House with a plea to the President for change.
Grimes continues, "We must stand NOW to insist on the laws being changed to
protect the innocent, both humans and dogs. Itıs too crucial to NOT do so.
The lost lives and changed futures of Willie, Patricia, Emma-Leigh, Kennedy,
Emily, Linda, Mark, Alani, Trusten, Kaitlyn, Nathan, Makayla, Jonathan, and
Oklena depend on it."
To contact Dogs Deserve Better go to their website at
www.dogsdeservebetter.com
Tammy Sneath Grimes, Founder
Dogs Deserve Better: No Chains!
Make a Dog's Life Worth Living
P.O. Box 23, Tipton, PA 16684
1.877.636.1408
814.941.7447
