Valentines for Chained Dogs Hope to Open Hearts—And Minds
January 17, 2007
By Rebecca Simmons
This year on Feb. 14, thousands of chained dogs will receive a very special valentine.
Dogs Deserve Better, the Pennsylvania-based non-profit that created Have a Heart for Chained Dogs Week in 2002, is asking animal lovers to help educate dog owners about the problems associated with chaining or tethering a dog continuously. One way that individuals or groups can participate is by creating handmade valentines to be mailed to chained dogs. If a valentine can convince an owner to unchain their pooch, a dog will be freed from a life of isolation, sadness, boredom and frustration.
"We were ecstatic last year to see an incredible response to our plea. We received a total of 5,971 valentines from 119 different groups and individuals, along with some tremendously touching letters, such as this one from Jessica Smith of Illinois, who wrote: 'I work with chemically dependent males age 12-18, and I thought making valentines for Dogs Deserve Better would be a wonderful way for them to tie service work into their treatment,'" said Tammy Grimes, founder of Dogs Deserve Better, in a Jan. 6 press release.
Take Action for
Chained Dogs
1. Get Crafty
Making valentines for chained dogs is a great project for individuals and groups. The messages can be anything along the lines of "bring us into the home and family." Visit www.DogsDeserveBetter.org to see what volunteers have created in the past. Hurry, the deadline for submitting valentines is Feb. 7.
2. Have a Heart
Sponsor a valentine for a deserving dog. To make a donation, send a check or visit www.DogsDeserveBetter.org to donate online. You can also include addresses of specific dogs you’d like to sponsor.
3. Address the Problem
Know a penned or chained dog who could use a valentine? Submit addresses by Feb. 7. Your information will remain anonymous.
4. Cash in Your Coupons
In addition to a valentine, each dog will receive a coupon for free or discounted dog treats. Make sure your coupons go to good use—mail them to Dogs Deserve Better by Feb. 7.
Another letter came from Brenda Trojanoski of Connecticut: "We are a 4-H group that loves dogs. Each Valentine was hand made by us, and pleads with the dog’s owners to bring their dogs in. We know you will pass along these Valentines to the dogs who need them most.”
The valentines are delivered by Dogs Deserve Better—along with a brochure and dog treat coupon—to addresses provided by animal lovers in the United States and Canada.
Have a Heart for Chained Dogs Week helps to educate not only the families who receive a valentine, but also the volunteers who create the cards.
"The students and groups gain a sense of accomplishment from creating for the dogs, and our hope is that more and more dog caretakers are educated as a result of the children's efforts," Grimes said.
Other ways to help include sponsoring a valentine, mailing dog treat coupons or providing addresses of chained dogs. The deadline for sending valentines, coupons or addresses to Dogs Deserve Better is Feb. 7.
Those who ask that valentines be sent to chained dogs in their community remain anonymous, allowing concerned citizens who may otherwise be too shy to confront their neighbors about the issue to speak up for chained dogs.
Contact Dogs
Deserve Better
Dogs Deserve Better
P.O. Box 23
Tipton, PA 16684
1-877-636-1408 (toll-free)
814-941-7447
info@dogsdeservebetter.org www.DogsDeserveBetter.org
While Dogs Deserve Better has no way of knowing how each recipient reacts to the valentine packet, there are several examples of families building a fence so they can unchain their dog, voluntarily finding another home for him, placing him up for adoption at the local shelter, or bringing him inside to be with the family.
Rebecca Simmons is the outreach communications coordinator for the Companion Animals section of The HSUS.
http://www.hsus.org/pets/pets_related_news_and_events/valentines_for_chained_dogs_2.html.