Unchain the dogs of New York State!
- Thread starter lakotasong
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I believe that one of the main reasons for the increasing popularity of these laws is that they are relatively easy to enforce.
It is often very difficult to prosecute dog fighters because you generally have to catch them in the act.
It is far easier to inspect a premises on multiple occasions and document constantly tethered dogs, cite the owners, and then prosecute if they do not comply.
Similarly if animal control hears that a dog is left abandoned by itself for days at a time tethered to a tree, that is also simple to document over several weeks.
I think the goal is to find more effective ways to prosecute extreme cruelty or neglect cases. Is the goal to end all tethering? No, just as drunk driving laws are not realistically going to catch all drunks. The goal is to reduce the problem and make it easy to prosecute the worst offenders.
It is often very difficult to prosecute dog fighters because you generally have to catch them in the act.
It is far easier to inspect a premises on multiple occasions and document constantly tethered dogs, cite the owners, and then prosecute if they do not comply.
Similarly if animal control hears that a dog is left abandoned by itself for days at a time tethered to a tree, that is also simple to document over several weeks.
I think the goal is to find more effective ways to prosecute extreme cruelty or neglect cases. Is the goal to end all tethering? No, just as drunk driving laws are not realistically going to catch all drunks. The goal is to reduce the problem and make it easy to prosecute the worst offenders.
I don't see how it would be harder to enforce a tethering time limit law than a "must have food and water" law or any of the animal cruelty laws. They all pretty much rely on fellow citizens documenting abuses and then calling AC to also document, and then build up evidence and a case. In no place I've ever lived has AC just driven around and busted people for things. It's neighbors and concerned citizens that take some pictures, keep track of what is going on, and call AC to also come and witness the abuse and perhaps talk to the people. That happens a few times and then AC has a case.
Thanks to all of those who have signed and cross-posted! We currently have 255 signatures at the time of this post. I was the 88th person to sign only three days ago! We still have a long way to go to reach our 10,000 signature goal.
Some of you have made some great posts, and I thank you for supporting this worthy cause! The issue of chaining is very near and dear to my heart, as most mushers keep their sled dogs chained. I have rescued a number of dogs from such abusive lives, the worst case being Khuno - my (now) beautiful Alaskan Husky.
Here is what Khuno looked like, moments before being freed from his chain where he had been abandoned - left to starve.
This is Khuno, at the rescue on day two:
And these are his teeth, ground down to the gums from gnawing on his chain in a wasted attempt to escape:
Keep forwarding and cross-posting the petition! Do it for dogs like Khuno!
Some of you have made some great posts, and I thank you for supporting this worthy cause! The issue of chaining is very near and dear to my heart, as most mushers keep their sled dogs chained. I have rescued a number of dogs from such abusive lives, the worst case being Khuno - my (now) beautiful Alaskan Husky.
Here is what Khuno looked like, moments before being freed from his chain where he had been abandoned - left to starve.
This is Khuno, at the rescue on day two:
And these are his teeth, ground down to the gums from gnawing on his chain in a wasted attempt to escape:
Keep forwarding and cross-posting the petition! Do it for dogs like Khuno!
Its based on living in a town where certain neighborhoods everyone's dogs are chained up in the back of the yard all year round without any form of shelter, food, water, or human contact. 
. I have eyes, and I can see that most people don't do it responsibly. And I have never actually seen anyone in MY city who does do it responsibly. Its not based on me just sitting in my house all day thinking they are doing it iiresponsibly. I live in a HUGE city, where EVERY dog I have seen so far chained is chained irresponsibly.
. I have eyes, and I can see that most people don't do it responsibly. And I have never actually seen anyone in MY city who does do it responsibly. Its not based on me just sitting in my house all day thinking they are doing it iiresponsibly. I live in a HUGE city, where EVERY dog I have seen so far chained is chained irresponsibly.
Melanie - you're right, very few people who chain do it in such a way that does not cause the animal to suffer mentally and/or physically. I was a Cruelty Investigator for New York State for two years, and see the truth - as you do. Aside from the rather obvious reasons as to why this practice is inhumane... the United States Department of Agriculture, the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, along with many regional and local organizations agree that permanent chaining is not in the best interest of the dog, mentally or physically.
I echo someone who said earlier - if you have to chain as a primary way of confinement, you should really re-examine why you have the dogs you do.
I echo someone who said earlier - if you have to chain as a primary way of confinement, you should really re-examine why you have the dogs you do.
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No matter what I say, I'm going to offend someone, so forgive me now...
I personally do not agree with chaining a dog for life. Tethering a dog out for a few hours a day, I can see that. But as the primary source for the dog's restraint, I don't.
My dogs want to be with me, whether that is inside, outside or in the van.. I want them with me. Where I know they are safe. Where I know people aren't messing with them. Where I know they aren't subject to being attacked by a stray animal. Where I know that the idiots who live across the street from me aren't attempting to poison them.
Have I ever tethered a dog? Certainly. While I'm working in the garden or doing something outside, I have tethered Hannah. I'm right there with her. If something happend to her, I could react quickly.
The "pit bull" we fostered, Ecko, who attacked and nearly killed my cat, was extremely cat agressive, and though we worked on it, I would have NEVER felt safe with her around my cats, ever. Her prey drive was too intense.
I rehomed her because I felt it was best for my existing pets. Now, I could have kept her had I exiled her to the backyard to live on a chain....but she's living as someone's beloved housedog now - safe, warm, dry and happy. Given the two options, it's obvious why I picked what I picked.
I just don't comprehend having "X" amount of dogs tied to chains. I know that Corvus has some male to male dog aggression issues, so....(here's where I differ I suppose from the persons who tether with DA issues....) I'm not going to get another male dog knowing that there will be fights if they're together. I'm not going to get another dog that I have to keep seperated or confined. I'm trying not to come across as condemning, but I do have to ask "WHY?" .
I certainly understand that there are 1001 different opinions on what pet ownership is about. I understand that everyone has different methods of pet ownership. I also understand that just because I do things one way, it doesn't make everyone elses way wrong....I just don't understand it is all.
I personally do not agree with chaining a dog for life. Tethering a dog out for a few hours a day, I can see that. But as the primary source for the dog's restraint, I don't.
My dogs want to be with me, whether that is inside, outside or in the van.. I want them with me. Where I know they are safe. Where I know people aren't messing with them. Where I know they aren't subject to being attacked by a stray animal. Where I know that the idiots who live across the street from me aren't attempting to poison them.
Have I ever tethered a dog? Certainly. While I'm working in the garden or doing something outside, I have tethered Hannah. I'm right there with her. If something happend to her, I could react quickly.
The "pit bull" we fostered, Ecko, who attacked and nearly killed my cat, was extremely cat agressive, and though we worked on it, I would have NEVER felt safe with her around my cats, ever. Her prey drive was too intense.
I rehomed her because I felt it was best for my existing pets. Now, I could have kept her had I exiled her to the backyard to live on a chain....but she's living as someone's beloved housedog now - safe, warm, dry and happy. Given the two options, it's obvious why I picked what I picked.
I just don't comprehend having "X" amount of dogs tied to chains. I know that Corvus has some male to male dog aggression issues, so....(here's where I differ I suppose from the persons who tether with DA issues....) I'm not going to get another male dog knowing that there will be fights if they're together. I'm not going to get another dog that I have to keep seperated or confined. I'm trying not to come across as condemning, but I do have to ask "WHY?" .
I certainly understand that there are 1001 different opinions on what pet ownership is about. I understand that everyone has different methods of pet ownership. I also understand that just because I do things one way, it doesn't make everyone elses way wrong....I just don't understand it is all.
Those who do chain dogs in a way that causes him to suffer, will continue to cause suffering when the dog is not tethered. If they don't provide food and water, then that is what needs to be adressed. If the dog is hurting himself on the chain, then that is what needs to be addressed. If the dog has inadequate shelter, then that is what needs to be addressed. If the dog is getting no interaction with people, then that is what needs to be addressed. It's not a matter of tethering or not tethering, it's a matter of providing for the dog's needs and ensuring his well being, which can be done while he is tethered.
Permanent chaining is different from a 3 hour limit.
Also, I did know one dog who was permanently chained, and he absolutely was fine. He was always very friendly and healthy.
Actually, what they said was:
There is a difference between tethering 24/7 and using a chain as a primary way of confinement. Using something ~~ whether a chain or a crate as a primary way of confinement means that is how the dog is kept when he needs to be confined. Such as when the owner can't be home to supervise.
How does one enforce a three hour limit? Someone would need to sit and watch for three hours. Driving past doesn't tell you whether or not the dog was taen off the chain in the time that no one was watching. Perhaps you drive past the house at 8 AM and see the dog is tethered. You drive past again at 12 PM and he is tethered. Again at 6 PM he is tethered. You assume he was tethered for ten hours. What you didn't see was that from 8:30 - 11:30 and from 1:00 - 5:45 he was not tethered. If AC has the resources to have people sit for hours on end, I can think of better ways for them to utilize those resources.
If the dog is neglected and unprovided for, there are already cruelty laws that should be enforced. If the dog is tethered and well cared for, then the owner and dog should not be punished simply because they can't afford a fence.
I have read many accounts of animal control tethering dogs that they have. How can AC tell owners not to tether dogs when they themselves use tethers?
Permanent chaining is different from a 3 hour limit.
Also, I did know one dog who was permanently chained, and he absolutely was fine. He was always very friendly and healthy.
Actually, what they said was:
There is a difference between tethering 24/7 and using a chain as a primary way of confinement. Using something ~~ whether a chain or a crate as a primary way of confinement means that is how the dog is kept when he needs to be confined. Such as when the owner can't be home to supervise.
How does one enforce a three hour limit? Someone would need to sit and watch for three hours. Driving past doesn't tell you whether or not the dog was taen off the chain in the time that no one was watching. Perhaps you drive past the house at 8 AM and see the dog is tethered. You drive past again at 12 PM and he is tethered. Again at 6 PM he is tethered. You assume he was tethered for ten hours. What you didn't see was that from 8:30 - 11:30 and from 1:00 - 5:45 he was not tethered. If AC has the resources to have people sit for hours on end, I can think of better ways for them to utilize those resources.
If the dog is neglected and unprovided for, there are already cruelty laws that should be enforced. If the dog is tethered and well cared for, then the owner and dog should not be punished simply because they can't afford a fence.
I have read many accounts of animal control tethering dogs that they have. How can AC tell owners not to tether dogs when they themselves use tethers?
*BUMP* We're up to 339 signatures this evening! Though some of the excuses in favor of chaining that I've seen on this thread are very disheartening, I do realize that a number of you have voted and cross-posted in support - and I thank you for that! Let's keep going and focus on what's important - the welfare of dogs!
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/2/unchain-the-dogs-of-new-york-state
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/2/unchain-the-dogs-of-new-york-state
I geuss this dog was horribly abused He was tetherd alot after he was 7. Yet he slept in the bed with the daughter, lived to be 13 when he died of old age peacefully, was never bored or hyper, was always smiling and happy. He also ate MUCH MUCH better then alot of dogs on this forum do. He never once bit someone unless it was justified (1 time when someone tried to hurt me). He had other dogs to play with but since the family lived in the woods and couldnt afford to put up a fence he was kept on a chain when he was outside. BTW thats my heart dog J.D. after he went to live with my friend.
Heres another tethered dog (the honey adn white).
He is tetherd when we are outside or on a long line if we are playing because we have no fence and he is intact. Yet we live in a county that has no leash law so I geuss I should jsut let him run loose and not tether him. But if places start banning tethering he will have to run loose because no one in my family can run with him when he is playing fetch or is wrestling with Walker or many of the other things he loves.
He was tetherd alot after he was 7. Yet he slept in the bed with the daughter, lived to be 13 when he died of old age peacefully, was never bored or hyper, was always smiling and happy. He also ate MUCH MUCH better then alot of dogs on this forum do. He never once bit someone unless it was justified (1 time when someone tried to hurt me). He had other dogs to play with but since the family lived in the woods and couldnt afford to put up a fence he was kept on a chain when he was outside. BTW thats my heart dog J.D. after he went to live with my friend.
Heres another tethered dog (the honey adn white).
He is tetherd when we are outside or on a long line if we are playing because we have no fence and he is intact. Yet we live in a county that has no leash law so I geuss I should jsut let him run loose and not tether him. But if places start banning tethering he will have to run loose because no one in my family can run with him when he is playing fetch or is wrestling with Walker or many of the other things he loves.
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ok here is my two cents, not that it means anything but, here it goes...
my mother has 3 cocker spaniels and for the past like 7 years she had them chained up because she lived in the country ( literally less than 600 people in the whole stinkin town), and it broke her heart to have to do it, she had no fence ( she too has escape artists), the pups would dig HUGE holes in the yard everywhere.. they would howl all the time, they would bark ALL the time, she had to buy those collars that made them not bark ( imagine that in the COUNTRY dogs can not bark or ya get a ticket for it) it really tore her up bad.. then, last year she was able to save enough money to build a 60 foot long 30 feet wide dog run with the 3 dog houses and a tarp on top for shade and protection from elements, it looks way cool too, she loves the fact that her dogs can run and play and jump all they want and they can not get loose!!!
AND OMG what a difference it made, the digging stopped, the howling was only when the curfew bell went off, and the barking was down to only when a truck drove onto the property.. WHOOOOOO... the dog run is complete with a chain link fence on top ( to prevent escapes) and she has a double entrance, so the pups do not get out. it works for her and the pups could not be more happy..
IMO people who have the wide open spaces and do not want to tether or chain their dogs could look into something like this, it works, you can make them as big or as little as you want. yes, it may cost alot in the beginning, but, in the long run, it will do your pup good to be able to run with out being tied up ... keep in mind this advise is for people who have to have their pups tied up for MORE THAN a few hours at a time. this would be a more permanent solution to tieing up your dog, but, again just my 2 cents.
my mother has 3 cocker spaniels and for the past like 7 years she had them chained up because she lived in the country ( literally less than 600 people in the whole stinkin town), and it broke her heart to have to do it, she had no fence ( she too has escape artists), the pups would dig HUGE holes in the yard everywhere.. they would howl all the time, they would bark ALL the time, she had to buy those collars that made them not bark ( imagine that in the COUNTRY dogs can not bark or ya get a ticket for it) it really tore her up bad.. then, last year she was able to save enough money to build a 60 foot long 30 feet wide dog run with the 3 dog houses and a tarp on top for shade and protection from elements, it looks way cool too, she loves the fact that her dogs can run and play and jump all they want and they can not get loose!!!
AND OMG what a difference it made, the digging stopped, the howling was only when the curfew bell went off, and the barking was down to only when a truck drove onto the property.. WHOOOOOO... the dog run is complete with a chain link fence on top ( to prevent escapes) and she has a double entrance, so the pups do not get out. it works for her and the pups could not be more happy..
IMO people who have the wide open spaces and do not want to tether or chain their dogs could look into something like this, it works, you can make them as big or as little as you want. yes, it may cost alot in the beginning, but, in the long run, it will do your pup good to be able to run with out being tied up ... keep in mind this advise is for people who have to have their pups tied up for MORE THAN a few hours at a time. this would be a more permanent solution to tieing up your dog, but, again just my 2 cents.
Assumptions like these have been known to lead to unfortunate false charges being brought by ACO's. In the world of AC, you are guilty until you prove yourself innocent (huh??) and you often are tried and convicted in the media. Let's not give these people more power.
And I can see by the look on his face that he was a very happy dog.
Dog ownership should only be for those who can afford the fencing??
What would you suggest for the dogs who will continually break out of it??
I'm glad it worked for your mom, but there's no one-size-fits-all way to keep and manage dogs.
The chain is screw on since they hold better
Do you know how much a determind 90 lb APBT can pull, He broke 3 lighter chains trying to play lightly.
And the dark coloring is a shadow he got bathed every 3 weeks
Do you know how much a determind 90 lb APBT can pull, He broke 3 lighter chains trying to play lightly.
And the dark coloring is a shadow he got bathed every 3 weeks
Dog ownership should only be for those who can afford the fencing??
What would you suggest for the dogs who will continually break out of it??
I'm glad it worked for your mom, but there's no one-size-fits-all way to keep and manage dogs.
I have to add to that most of the Ac's where he lived LOVED that tether LOL. When we had him on a regular clip he broke it in half and had to be the ACO companion for the day. All the ACOS knew him because he was my service dog.
Oh he was I was worried he would flip in being in a different home away from me but he loved it there.
Oh he was I was worried he would flip in being in a different home away from me but he loved it there.