There are an untold number of chained dogs in the Province of British Columbia and nothing is being done to change this.
Mere words on a website or on a flyer do nothing to help any of the dogs who presently suffer daily on the end of a chain or tether.
The Surrey SPCA branch of the BC SPCA has similar information to the Humane Society of the United States http://www.hsus.org/ace/11865
on their website:
PET CARE STORY OF THE MONTH
How does tethering or chaining dogs pose a danger to humans and other animals?
Why is tethering dangerous to dogs?
Are tethered dogs otherwise treated well?
Are the places where dogs are tied up usually comfortable?
How else can people confine dogs?
Should chaining or tethering ever be allowed?
What about attaching a dog's leash to a "pulley run"?
Why should a community outlaw the continuous chaining or tethering of dogs?
A chained animal is caught in a vicious cycle; frustrated by long periods of boredom and social isolation, he becomes a neurotic shell of his former self—further deterring human interaction and kindness. In the end, the helpless dog can only suffer the frustration of watching the world go by in isolation—a cruel fate for what is by nature a highly social animal. Any community that bans this practice is a safer, more humane place.
WHAT'S WRONG WITH TYING MY DOG IN THE BACK YARD?
Dogs are naturally social and thrive on interaction with human beings and other animals. A dog kept chained in one spot for hours, days, months, or even years suffers immense psychological damage. An otherwise friendly and docile dog becomes neurotic, unhappy, anxious, and often aggressive. In many cases, the necks of chained dogs become raw and covered with sores. Dogs have even been found with collars embedded in their necks, the result of years of neglect at the end of a chain.
Dogs tethered for long periods can become highly aggressive. Dogs feel naturally protective of their territory. A chained dog often feels forced to fight, attacking any unfamiliar animal or person who unwittingly wanders into his or her territory. Cats, rabbits, smaller dogs, and other animals may enter the area when the tethered dog is asleep and then be fiercely attacked when the dog awakens. The victims of attacks are often children who are unaware of the chained dog until it is too late. Furthermore, a tethered dog who finally does get loose may remain aggressive and is likely to chase and attack unsuspecting passersby and pets.
Tethers can become entangled and the dog can choke or strangle to death. Dogs forced to live on a chain make easy targets for other animals, humans, and biting insects. A chained animal may suffer harassment and teasing from insensitive humans, bites from insects, and attacks by other animals. They are also easy targets for thieves looking to steal animals.
Rarely does a chained or tethered dog receive sufficient care. Tethered dogs suffer from sporadic feedings, overturned water bowls, inadequate veterinary care, and extreme temperatures. What's more, because their often neurotic behavior makes them difficult to approach, chained dogs are rarely given even minimal affection. Tethered dogs may become "part of the scenery" and can be easily ignored by their owners.
No, because the dogs have to eat, sleep, urinate and defecate in a single confined area. Owners who chain their dogs are also less likely to clean the area. Although there may have once been grass in an area of confinement, it is usually so beaten down by the dog's pacing that the ground consists of nothing but dirt or mud. During snow storms, these dogs often have no access to shelter. During periods of extreme heat, they may not receive adequate water or protection from the sun.
All dogs should be kept indoors at night, taken on regular walks, and otherwise provided with adequate attention, food, water, and veterinary care. If an animal must be housed outside at certain times, he should be placed in a suitable pen with adequate square footage and shelter from the elements.
To become well-adjusted companion animals, dogs should interact regularly with people and other animals, and should receive regular exercise. It is an owner's responsibility to properly restrain his/her dog, just as it is the owner's responsibility to provide adequate attention and socialization. Placing an animal on a restraint to get fresh air can be acceptable if it is done for a short period. However, keeping an animal tethered for long periods is never acceptable.
Animals who must be kept on a tether should be secured in such a way that the tether cannot become entangled with other objects. Collars should be comfortable and properly fitted; choke chains should never be used. Restraints should allow the animal to move about and lie down comfortably. Animals should never be tethered during natural disasters such as floods, fires, tornadoes, hurricanes, or blizzards.
Attaching a dog's leash to a long line—such as a clothesline or a manufactured device known as a pulley run—and letting the animal have a larger area in which to explore is preferable to tethering the dog to a stationary object. However, many of the same problems associated with tethering still apply, including attacks on or by other animals, lack of socialization, and safety.
Animal control and humane agencies receive countless calls every day from citizens concerned about animals in these cruel situations. Animal control officers, paid at taxpayer expense, spend many hours trying to educate pet owners about the dangers and cruelty involved in this practice.
The Duncan SPCA refers to the another website concerning chained dogs:
Unchain Your Dog
If chained or lonely dogs live near you, offer to walk them. This is one of the best gifts of all!
The BC SPCA wants all of us involved in animal welfare to" work together to address the serious animal welfare problems that are still a sad reality in our province."
The dogs that are on chains today are suffering and waiting for all of us to help them.
These dogs don't need more words or another study.
Let's get on with it.