Why is chaining your dog bad?

Dogs are naturally social beings that thrive on interaction with human beings and other animals. A dog kept chained in one spot for hours, days, months or even years suffers immense psychological damage. An otherwise friendly and docile dog, when kept continuously chained, becomes neurotic, unhappy, anxious and often aggressive.

Chaining is not only inhumane for the dogs living on chains but also a threat for other animals and humans. Chained dogs have taken a severe toll on this nation’s children as well. In the period from October 2003 through August 2008, there were at least 257 children killed or seriously injured by chained dogs across the country.

Chained dogs, un-socialized with humans, can become very territorial of their tiny space and any child who wanders into this space can be attacked and killed before adults can intervene.

Animal control and humane agencies receive countless calls every day from citizens concerned about animals in these cruel situations. Animal control officers, paid at taxpayer expense, spend many hours trying to educate pet owners about the dangers and cruelty involved in this practice.

The Cold, Hard Facts About Dog-Chaining

A chained dog, unable to take flight, often feels forced to fight, attacking any unfamiliar animal or person.

Seventeen percent of dogs involved in fatal attacks on humans between 1979 and 1998 were restrained on their owners’ property at the time of the attack.

Dogs’ tethers can become entangled with other objects, which can choke or strangle the dogs to death.

A chained animal may suffer harassment and teasing from insensitive humans, stinging bites from insects, and, in the worst cases, attacks by other animals.

Tethered dogs may become “part of the scenery” and can be easily ignored by their owners.

More than 100 communities in more than 30 states have passed laws that regulate the practice of tethering animals.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) concluded in a study that the dogs most likely to attack are male, unneutered and chained.

Neck abrasions and infections from chains, ropes or ill-fitting collars are also the plight of many chained dogs, some even found with collars or neck-holds grown into their skin.

A chained dog is three times more likely to bite than a dog who enjoys humane living conditions, good care and adequate socialization.

Dogs can so easily become entangled in their chains, leaving them cut off from any available food, water or shelter.

Click here to view photos of chained dogs. Please note: some of these pictures may be disturbing.