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March
2007
FACT:
Chaining and penning create aggression, not protection. A protective
dog is used to being around people and can tell when his family
is being threatened. Dogs learn to be protective when they spend
time with and are loved by their human family and are "part
of the pack."
FACT:
A Chained or penned dog can do nothing to stop an intruder! A chained
or penned dog can only bark. (Do you really get up to investigate
every time your dog barks?!) Statistics show that one of the best
deterrents to intruders is an inside dog. An intruder will think
twice about entering a home with a dog on the other side of the
door!
If
You Chain your Dog 24/7/365 Please consider the following:
Dogs
have all the social needs that wolves--and in fact, humans--have,"
says psychologist Dr. Theo Capaldo, past president of Psychologists
for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. "One way that wolves
severely punish a pack member is to ignore the animal. It is highly
likely that many dogs experience their prolonged chaining and separation
from the rest of the "family/pack" as rejection."
Dogs treated like this are probably depressed, Capaldo states. "Some
become aggressive, but more typically the dogs will become lethargic
and listless."
Some
canines even suck or chew on themselves, sometimes causing serious
injury. Capaldo says, "Research on polar bears in zoos, for
example, shows that when we deprive animals of their instinctive
behaviors, we create neuroses or even psychotic-like conditions.
For dogs, prolonged chaining is emotional abuse."
Many
dogs who are chained for long periods get into physical danger too.
Often they get uncomfortably wrapped up in their chains, according
to John Mays, executive director of the National Animal Control
Association. Some of these canines end up with broken limbs, or
even strangle to death.
Chained
dogs are also easier targets for abusers and dog thieves. "It's
common for kids to tease chained dogs by hosing them down, or throwing
things like rocks, sticks or baseballs at them," Mays says.
These helpless dogs often get injured. "Sometimes even adults
abuse chained dogs," Mays adds, "especially if they have
a personal vendetta against a neighbor."
Sticks
and stones, broken bones...then comes the rain. If dogs are constantly
tied in the same spot, they wear away the grass. "You get a
downpour of rain, and that dirt turns into mud real quick,"
Mays says. "A wet, muddy dog is going to be very uncomfortable."
He
knows of chained dogs who froze to death because they didn't have
enough shelter. And when the summer sun blazes down, many canines
have to choose whether to swelter in the sunlight or crouch in an
overheated doghouse. "Many of these dogs die of heat exhaustion,"
Mays says.
Elderly,
sick and weak dogs can have an especially tough time. So can young
dogs: Sometimes as they grow, the chains become embedded in their
necks, damaging the muscle and causing infections.
Please
contact Dogs Deserve Better toll free @ 1-877-636-1408 and ask that
the nearest DDB Representative contact you to help you with obedience/
housetraining/vetting/fencing - all for FREE! Please reconsider
making a better life for your dog.
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