On Thursday, a bill was filed in the Illinois Senate regarding tethering of dogs. Below is more information on the legislation. Please make a call to your State Senator and ask them to become a co-sponsor of SB 2580.
To find out who your State Representative is, you can visit the following website:
http://action.humanesociety.org/site/PageServer?pagename=electedOfficials
Tethering Dogs is Inhumane.
Dogs are naturally social beings who thrive on interaction with human beings and other animals. A dog who is kept chained in one spot for hours, days, months, or even years suffers immense psychological damage. An otherwise friendly and docile dog, when kept continuously chained, becomes neurotic, unhappy, anxious, and often very aggressive. In many cases, the necks of chained dogs become rubbed raw and covered with sores, the result of improperly fitted collars and the dogs’ constant yanking and straining in desperate attempts to escape confinement. Dogs have even been found with collars embedded in their necks, the result of years of neglect at the end of a chain.
Tethering Dogs is Dangerous for Our Communities.
Dogs tethered for long periods of time can become highly aggressive. Dogs feel naturally protective of their territory; when confronted with a perceived threat, they respond according to their natural fight-or-flight instinct. A chained dog, unable to take flight, often feels forced to fight, attacking any unfamiliar animal or person who unwittingly wanders into his or her territory. Numerous attacks on people by tethered dogs have been documented. For example, a study published in the September 15, 2000 issue of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association reported that 17% of dogs involved in fatal attacks on humans between 1979 and 1998 were restrained on their owners’ property at the time of the attack.
Tethered Dogs are often Neglected.
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. During snowstorms, chained dogs often have no access to shelter. During periods of extreme heat, they may not receive adequate water or protection from the sun. Because chained dogs’ often neurotic behavior makes them difficult to approach, they are rarely given even minimal affection, food, and water. Many do not receive sufficient veterinary care, including standard vaccinations. Tethered dogs may become “part of the scenery” and can be easily ignored by their owners.
What can be done?
Numerous communities have passed legislation restricting the practice of tethering dogs. S.B. 2580 would prohibit a person from tethering a dog by using a log or tow chain and prohibits the use of a tether that is less than 15 feet long. This legislation also specifies requirements for outdoor enclosures and does not allow dogs to be tethered during natural disasters or during the hours of 10pm to 6am.
The Facts About Chaining and Tethering, Why this practice is cruel to dogs
http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/chaining_tethering/facts/chaining_tethering_facts.html
