Education for a Humane Hawaii

The island of Oahu has a tremendous number of dogs that spend their unhappy lives at the end of a chain.  Here are some commonly asked questions about chaining and tethering dogs, courtesy of the Humane Society of the United States.

Q. Are you talking about putting a dog on a leash to walk it?

A. No. “Chaining” or “tethering” is attaching the dog to a stationery object (a fence, a stake in the ground) in the owner’s yard. It is usually done to keep the animal under control. It does not refer to an animal being walked on a leash.

Q. Who says it’s a bad idea to put a dog on a chain or tether?

A. The Humane Society of the United States and many animal experts, including the U.S Department of Agriculture, which issued the following statement in 1996:

 "Our experience in enforcing the Animal Welfare Act has led us to conclude that continuous confinement of dogs by a tether  is inhumane.  A tether significantly restricts a dog's movement.  A tether can also become tangled around or hooked on the dog's shelter structure or other objects, further restricting the dog's movement and potentially causing injury."

Q. Why is it bad to keep my dog on a chain or tether all the time?

A. Dogs are pack animals; they need interaction with humans and other animals to survive. A dog that is chained outside is isolated from his “pack,” and can suffer tremendous psychological damage from that. Evidence has shown that dogs that started out friendly and well-behaved became unhappy, anxious, or even aggressive when they were kept on a chain.

Many chained dogs show evidence of abuse. They are not fed consistently and are not given appropriate veterinary care. But even in situations where the dog is not abused, just having it chained up can do a lot of harm. Dogs on chains or tethers frequently tug and pull against their restraints; this can cause their necks to be rubbed raw underneath their collars. A dog that lives on a chain has no place to retreat from extreme weather conditions -- like the intense heat of many Hawaiian days. Because a tethered dog is so separated from his owners, it becomes easier for even the most well-intentioned owner to forget to play with the dog, to clean up after him, or to give him the affection he needs and deserves.

In addition to all that, dogs are usually not chained in a comfortable environment. The dog is forced to eat, sleep, urinate, and defecate all in the same confined space. The area is frequently dirt or mud because the dog has worn away the grass by pacing or running along the length of his chain. And, as stated previously, the dog usually doesn’t have a protected area to get out of the weather.

Q. Is tethering really dangerous for dogs?

A. Yes! Beyond the psychological damage, there are physical dangers as well. A dog on a chain cannot escape from insects that bite or sting; from humans that harass, tease, or abuse; or from other animals -- wild or domesticated -- that might attack or even kill him.  Thieves frequently steal chained dogs and sell them to research institutions for scientific experiments or to dog-fighting rings for “practice fights.” And even if a dog avoids all these dangers, he can choke or strangle if his tether gets caught on another object.

Q. Are there other dangers from tethering?

A. Yes! Dogs that are tethered for long periods of time can become very aggressive. Dogs have a “fight or flight” instinct, and since a chained dog cannot flee, he frequently attacks. Anyone or anything that comes into his “territory” -- cats, rabbits, smaller dogs, or even people -- can be attacked. Even a dog that breaks loose from his chain is likely to remain aggressive and attack people while he is loose.

Q. Aren’t you just saying that because you think it’s bad to chain dogs?

A. No, there is scientific evidence supporting the fact that tethered dogs are more likely to attack people. In September 2000, the Journal of American Veterinary Medicine reported that “17 percent of dogs involved in fatal attacks on humans between 1979 and 1998 were restrained on their owners’ property at the time of the attack.” Children are frequent victims of chained dogs, as they may not realize the danger until it is too late.

Q. Aren’t there some situations where it’s ok to chain?

A. Putting an animal on a chain for a short period of time to allow it some fresh air is acceptable, but animals should never be chained for long periods of time and certainly should not be left on a chain all the time.

Q. Is there a safer way to chain a dog? What about attaching the dog to a “pulley run”?

A.  If a dog must be kept on a tether, make sure that the dog has a comfortable, good-fitting collar -- and never use a choke collar on the dog. Set up the tether so that it cannot become entangled in any other objects. Give the dog enough room to move around and lie down comfortably, and provide him with shelter and access to water. Never leave a dog tethered during severe weather or a natural disaster.

Using a “pulley run,” in which the dog is attached to a clothesline and can run back and forth along the entire length of the line, is preferable to tethering the dog in a single spot, because it allows more freedom of movement. However, all the other guidelines apply -- make sure the dog has the right kind of collar on, provide him with shelter and water, and don’t leave him tied up for too long.

Q. Ok, you’ve convinced me not to chain my dog, but how else do I keep him confined?

A. The Humane Society of the United States recommends that dogs always be kept inside at night. If the dog needs to be housed outside at other times, make sure he is in a pen with adequate space, water, and shelter in case the weather is uncomfortable. And no matter where a dog is kept, all dogs should get regular exercise, attention, food, water, and veterinary care.

Q. What can we do about the problem of chaining dogs?

More than 30 states have laws about tethering animals, and some communities have completely outlawed the practice.

Q. Why should a community make the continuous chaining or tethering of dogs illegal?

A. Animal control officers spend many hours and countless taxpayer dollars trying to educate pet owners about the dangers and cruelty of this practice. Animal control and humane agencies receive many calls every day from people concerned about animals they have witnessed in these cruel and potentially abusive situations. Any community that outlaws this inhumane practice is a safer, kinder, and more just place to live.

This content courtesy of the Humane Society of the United States.