By Michelle A. Rivera -
[email protected] and
Tammy Grimes -
[email protected]
I recently received an e-mail from my sister-in-law
Marion who forwarded another e-mail from our cousin. I have a definite
policy not to open forwards and Marion knows this. So when I saw it was
from her, I figured it had to be something really important. I was not
disappointed. The e-mail contained a short introduction about a new
effort to help dogs through legislation. Working to enact legislation to
make lives better for animals is an important form of activism because
with the laws come empowerment to help the animals in our own
communities. I visited the website and then wrote to the founder of the
site and asked her to write an article about her mission for Animal
Writes readers because I knew they would not only want to welcome her
and wish her much luck, but also learn about what they can do to start
the huge machine that is bureaucracy chugging out laws to prohibit the
chaining of dogs in communities across the U.S. As a cruelty officer
certified in the State of Florida, one of the most common complaints I
received are those involving dogs chained to trees, fences, bumpers of
cars and trucks and other concoctions. I truly wonder, as I watch my dog
curl up on my bed for the hundredth time in the cool air conditioning in
an environment full of stimulation and enrichment, how ANYONE can be so
cruel as to chain a dog outside.
Peta (www.helpinganimals.com and click on "Animal
Angels") has a wonderful campaign - "Life Sentence, No Parole" where
they have posters and fliers about dogs chained outside and some of the
laws that are being enacted around the country to outlaw this barbarism.
And don't forget our friends at the Animal Legal Defense Fund (www.aldf.org)
for help and assistance in getting through to the lawmakers in your
community. One last resource is the Humane Activist Network, (www.hsus.org),
a great source of help when it comes to initiating letter-writing
campaigns and speaking before your legislators.
Here is why Tammy thinks Dogs Deserve Better:
Dogs Deserve Better, Inc. is a newly-formed nonprofit
dedicated to being the voice for all dogs living chained outside. Dogs
Deserve Better was formed to address what I feel is an extreme need to
raise awareness of this issue, both in my area and across the country.
Dogs are loving, pack-oriented creatures. They want nothing more than
the love of a family and to feel a member of this family whenever
possible. When they live chained outside, not only do they not have this
love and familial bond, their quality of life is, in essence,
nonexistent. They spend every minute of every day within a tiny,
confined space, dragging a chain with every step. Many dogs in this
position become quite territorial and may bite or become overly
aggressive due to the restricted circumstances and the accompanying
feelings of sadness, anger, and boredom. This is the life of a prisoner,
not a valued companion.
Would you for one minute exchange places with these
dogs? Living chained by the neck is not an option that any human would
choose, and Dogs Deserve Better feels we need to make better choices for
our best friends. We as a society have evolved, our standard of
treatment for these dogs must evolve as well!
Montgomery County, Maryland has recently enacted laws
prohibiting chaining of dogs outside between the hours of 10 pm and 6
am, and even those kept outside during the day must be tethered by a
harness rather than chained by the neck. This is a wonderful step in the
right direction, and I hope to continue that kind of reform in my area
and across the country. Because of this success, I've often been asked,
"Why don't you broaden your platform, what about all the other dog
issues that abound?" There are many groups focusing on larger issues of
animal abuse. These groups absolutely agree that dogs should not be
living a chained existence. However, it is for them one issue of many.
They must focus on the other immediate animal issues, such as saving
dogs that are abused, finding homes for abandoned dogs, and providing
medical care for those in need, that the dogs-living-chained-outside
issue falls to the back burner. In fact, it falls so far back that it
often isn't even addressed. Yes, the platform is much broader than dogs
living chained outside. These issues run really deep, and chaining dogs
is only one symptom of a huge societal problem. But unless someone
focuses on this, it will continue to fall to the back burner and dogs
will continue to live chained outside for a lifetime, 10-20 years living
as prisoners who've committed no crimes, because the caretakers are not
prohibited from participating in this particularly heinous form of
mental and emotional abuse. In most case the chaining of a dog
constitutes a "manner of keeping violation" at best. Violators can
expect a $25 fine or so. But this is neglect, pure and simple. This
issue should be in the public's awareness time and again until people
sit up and take notice. And I don't want to cloud it up with the other
million and 1/2 problems that are wrong with society's view of dogs as
pets, or any companion animal for that matter. People need to know that
when they get a dog chaining him or her outside is not an option. We
must educate, educate, educate!
I recently tabled at a community event. Some people came
up to my booth practically in tears, thanking me for taking this stand.
And for me that's confirmation enough that this mission I'm working is
worthwhile. My main focus will stay on those forgotten dogs, those who
supposedly have a home, and food, and are not in immediate crisis of
death. But death of the soul is still death to me. No Chains!
If you would like to learn how Tammy succeeded in
getting laws passed in her area or get copies to show your own
commissioners, please contact Tammy S. Grimes Founder, Dogs Deserve
Better, at [email protected], or visit her site at
www.dogsdeservebetter.com, or call her at 877.636.1408.
Go on to Calling All
Student Animal Rights Advocates
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