Chaining of Dogs is Inhumane
By Laura Lopes Garris,
Elizabeth City Daily Advance Editorial
August 23, 2003, ELIZABETH CITY, N.C.--
The danger of chaining or tethering a dog for long periods of time was brought to life recently when a woman was attacked by several pit bulls.
It was discovered that these dogs spent all their time chained outside.
Chaining a dog is inhumane and a chained dog becomes a serious threat to other animals and people.
Dogs are social animals that thrive on interaction with humans and other animals. Dogs that are kept chained suffer terrible psychological damage. They are extremely unhappy at the lack of social interaction and become neurotic, anxious and very often aggressive.
Their necks become sore, raw and infected. In my time working as a veterinarian assistant, I have seen dogs with collars embedded in the neck, and the collars then have to be removed surgically.
The Humane Society of the United States and U.S. Department of Agriculture issued a statement on July 2, 1996 with the Federal Register against chaining dogs.
Dogs that are chained for long periods of time do become aggressive. They are naturally protective of their territory, and when confronted with what they may perceive as a threat, will respond according to their fight or flight instinct. Of course a chained dog has nowhere to flee, this leaves him with only one option, to fight. They will attack other animals and people who enter their territory.
According to the Journal of the American Veterinarian Medicinal Association, 17 percent of dogs involved in fatal attacks on humans between 1979 and 1998 were chained on their owner’s property at the time of the attack. Unfortunately, many of these victims of chained dogs are children. A dog that has been chained for long periods when let loose will aggressively chase humans and pets.
Dogs that are chained are easy targets for teasing and taunting. They cannot flee and feel trapped, setting the scene for aggressive behavior. They also are easy targets for people looking for dogs to steal for research and dog fighting rings.
These dogs rarely receive regular veterinarian care or attention from their owners. They are fed sporadically, many times they will go hours without water due to overturned bowls. Their whole life fits into the small circumference of the length of the chain. They eat, sleep, urinate and defecate in the same area. They will wear the grass down due to constant pacing and many times find themselves living in a mud hole.
A chained dog is condemned to a life of boredom, no social interaction, filthy conditions and ill health.
So far 25 states have passed laws regulating chaining.
Owners have a responsibility to provide their pet with clean conditions, social interaction, exercise, veterinarian care, and shelter from the elements.
Be a kind, responsible pet owner by treating your pet as part of your family.
(Garris is an veterinarian's assistant and animal trainer.)
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