 |
|
|
 |
 |
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
Get
your
Chain Off 2007 Attire!
|
||
|
Nita
Lewis, Dreama Brooks, Maria Sutton, Local Group Chained to Dog Houses Staunton In the 80 degree heat, women sat all day long along Route 250 in Staunton, chained to dog houses to protest the chaining up of dogs in the Shenandoah Valley. Participant Pam Prickett says, "We hope to show people that, you know, we have a cause this cause is important. We want to get our name out there-let us educate people, let them know we are here and especially if they need help." Sally Williams with the group "Chains Hurt" says the idea for the sit out was inspired by a woman in Pennsylvania. "One particular lady chained herself up to a dog house for so many hours in trying to fight an abuse case of a dog that was starved to death and it stemmed from that and each year she tries to get more and more people to get involved." "Chains Hurt" has been actively trying to raise awareness for years now, Williams thinks their efforts are reaching people in the community, and providing hope for those who don't know where to turn. "I think more and more people see it everyday-they drive to work and they're just out with their family and seeing all these dogs chained up in our area and no one knows what to do about it." Advocates hope to banish chaining of dogs by staging protest in Staunton By
Brad Zinn/staff STAUNTON — It was a dog-day afternoon for a handful of local animal activists looking to bring an end to the incessant chaining of canines. With car horns honking in support and periodic visitors seeking information, volunteers for Chains Hurt and Spay/Neuter, Inc. chained themselves to doghouses Saturday on a hill next to Wright's Dairy-Rite on Greenville Avenue. Their goal was to bring awareness to the plight of dogs that are left tethered to a chain for days on end. Sitting atop a plastic doghouse under a relentless morning sun, Nita Lewis, president of Spay/Neuter, Inc., stated the obvious. "It feels hot," she said with a grin. Lewis had no plans to retreat from her eight-hour stint of being chained, although she held out hope for a helping hand in the food department. "We're hoping somebody comes by. We didn't take time to pack a lunch," she said. Dreama Brooks, also of Spay/Neuter, Inc. and wearing a spiked dog collar, was eagerly awaiting the tree shade to make its way over to her doghouse. Nearly three hours into her chaining experience, she said, "My collar is hot, there are flies and bugs biting. It's incredible. I just couldn't imagine a dog being on a chain 24-seven." A Craigsville resident, Brooks said she's hoping to see changes within her own community. "Where I'm from there are too many chained dogs," she said. Amy Hammer, co-founder of Chains Hurt, said the group received much support throughout the morning and that a number of people stopped by for brochures and additional information on the hazards of chaining dogs. "It's been going pretty well," said Hammer, wearing a chain while lounging near her doghouse. "All positive, and some blank stares." Lewis said the anti-chaining effort already made inroads with one of her neighbors in Waynesboro who had been keeping two Labrador retrievers chained for long periods of time. "They're being brought by at the end of the day" and will be placed with a foster family, Lewis said.
We
can now accept donations over the phone If
you'd like to donate via regular USPS mail, you may print
out this
|
