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Get
your
Chain Off 2007 Attire!
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Debi
Skelton Woman to protest chaining of dogs By
Jami Marquardt jmarquardt@stcloudtimes.com Debi Skelton has seven puppies and two dogs. But she will be the one chained to the kennel for 12 to 24 hours today. The St. Cloud resident is a participant of the fifth annual Unchain the 50, an event spotlighting freedom for chained dogs across America. Why? Because dogs deserve better, she says. Dogs tied for long periods can become highly aggressive because they feel naturally protective of their territory, especially when it’s limited to a small space. From October 2003-May 2007, about 140 children died or were seriously injured by chained dogs nationwide, according to data from Dogs Deserve Better, a nonprofit organization. Two main Unchain the 50 events took place during the weekend, one in a park in Atlanta, Ga., and the other in a park in Seattle, Wash. Nationwide, participants chained themselves in their community or front yard for eight to 24 hours. Skelton worked around her schedule and will be sitting in the Petco parking lot across from Crossroads Center starting at noon today. Awareness Skelton heard about the event online and tried to convince family and friends to join the effort. But she may be the only participant, unless her son shows up. She’s petrified, but willing, she said. “I’m not a really outgoing person,” she said. “I tend to stay to myself and my animals.” But it will be worth raising awareness and understanding about animal needs, she said. The mother of four also has three cats, two rats and five mice — all of them either strays or rescued from owners who no longer wanted them. The animals are all kept indoors because she doesn’t have a fenced yard, but she takes them for walks and likes that they are part of the family. “I want people to know that animals need better care,” she said. Alternatives Vicki Davis, executive director of the Tri-County Humane Society, said there are other alternatives to tying up a dog. But she understands that sometimes, it cannot be avoided. “There are times when that is the only option people have,” especially when they are let out from the house for short periods of time. she said. Tying the pet up is preferable to worrying they might get hit by a car, Davis said. The length of time a dog is tied up and the conditions outside should be monitored, she said. Rather than tie animals to a tree where than can get twisted up or knock over their food dishes with the low rope, alternatives include trolleys that run on clothesline poles, keeping the ropes up and tangle-free. They also give the pet enough exercise and space to help prevent it from becoming aggressive. Some communities limit or prohibit chaining. Davis said it is a law that would be hard to enforce. She prefers to promote the alternatives. “Anything to try to prevent a dog from a lonely life,” she said.
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