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Saturday, December 13, 2008

Don't Leave Your Dog Chained Up

(NAPSI)-Chaining a dog in the backyard used to be the norm for keeping dogs but it's not anymore. People now realize that continuously chaining a dog is inhumane and dangerous. Here are some frequently asked questions about chaining and tethering dogs:

Q. Is there a problem with continuous chaining or tethering?

A. Yes, the practice is both inhumane and a threat to the safety of the dog.

Q. Why is tethering dogs inhumane?

A. Dogs are naturally social beings who 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.

Q. What are communities doing to correct the problem of tethering dogs?

A. More than 100 communities in more than 30 states have passed laws that regulate the practice of tethering animals. Maumelle, Ark., and Tucson, Ariz., completely prohibit the unattended tethering of dogs. Many other communities only allow tethering for limited periods of time or during certain conditions. Orange County, Fla., for example, does not allow tethering between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. or during times of extreme weather.

Q. Who says tethering dogs is inhumane?

A. In addition to The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and numerous animal experts, the U.S. Department of Agriculture issued a statement against tethering: "Our experience in enforcing the Animal Welfare Act has led us to conclude that continuous confinement of dogs by a tether is inhumane."

Help Chained Dogs

To help chained dogs, the HSUS suggests you download or request a free copy of "A Dog's Life: Chaining and Your Community," a step-by-step guide on how to pass an anti-chaining ordinance.

To learn more, visit www.humanesociety.org/chaining.

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