Dogs Deserve Better strongly encourages all of you reading this today to make it happen! Get laws in your city, county, state or country against the chaining and penning of dogs for life.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5SWovs7Tp8

Escambia, County Florida, just passed tethering limits, due mainly in part to some wonderful (as in realistic and sad) photos taken by Laura Catterton and made into a slideshow. Below, view the show, and see what Laura told us about how she did it:

" I have a basic camera with option to take video...nothing fancy, no HD, so
anyone can do this! I opened a free account on OneTrueMedia to make the slideshow. I'm no photographer, either, but I realize the importance of documenting so I take my camera everywhere."

You can do it too! Get that camera ready, and get out there today!

Unchained: Q&A with Paulette Dean
http://hslf.typepad.com/political_animal/2009/12/unchained-qa-with-paulette-dean.html
(DDB archive of the interview in case link does not work)

The longer we work the issue of chaining and penning dogs the more we realize we need laws to protect them. Many letters fall on deaf ears, and even person to person contact often results in dead ends. Working via education alone is not the fastest route. Education combined with legislation is the answer.

Julie Lewin, President of Animal Advocacy Connecticut and founder of National Institute for Animal Advocacy:

"As a lobbyist for more than a decade, I've learned important lessons. First, most legislators' votes about animals are unknown by the vast majority of their constituents who care, leaving opponents of humane laws in control. Second, state policies allow institutional and legal forms of animal abuse, because our legislators and policymakers have not been held accountable for their actions by an informed constituency. Third, inhumane laws and policies do not reflect the views of the majority, but rather those of anti-animal minorities with a strong local or national presence. Fourth, this will not change until animal advocates voice their feelings to the legislators and let them know they will be held accountable in the voting booth."

Julie recently lobbied for and got the first state law prohibiting continuous chaining of dogs in Connecticut. Julie will come to your organization or community for a training seminar, visit her site at www.nifaa.org.

Buy Julie's book on how to get laws, for sale right here at DDB, it's gotten rave reviews from both HSUS and the ASPCA too.

Citizens in communities throughout the U.S. have stood and changed laws already. We welcome input/articles from anyone instrumental in changing chained dog laws. Please e-mail your article to info@dogsdeservebetter.org.

Heather Carpenter, former Orlando Florida Dogs Deserve Better rep, compiled a basic 'to-do' list for changing laws:

1) SELECT AN ISSUE. Like chaining of dogs!!

2) EDUCATE YOURSELF ON THE ISSUE. You should be well informed on the issues surrounding your cause, and not just from a cruelty aspect. Government officials are concerned about public safety, public health, and of course animal welfare.

3) RESEARCH YOUR COUNTY'S CURRENT LAWS. They may have some aspect of a tethering ordinance in place. If not, they may have an ordinance regarding the confinement of animals. Tethering could be added onto this already existing ordinance. Remember that http://www.municode.com is a good resource to look up your county's ordinances, if they're on-line. Its really easy to use. If your county does not have on-line codes, go to your local library or clerk of court for a copy of the local ordinances.

4) FIND A MODEL ORDINANCE. See our Model Laws page for the best laws to model yours on. The Helping Animals website, as well as Unchainyourdog.org, have the ordinances from other counties listed. Your commissioners want to see what's going on in other communities and probably write their ordinances based on one already existing. The original six communities all enforce the law, as well.

5) FIND ALLIES. Your local humane society or even your local animal control could be helpful. Also any animal rights or welfare groups, wildlife or environmental groups may be supportive. Dog obedience trainers or vets may be supportive.

6) KNOW YOUR OPPOSITION. Its important to think about the type of people or groups that may oppose your ordinance. Know their arguments and be ready to counter. These might be hunters or low end breeders, or if you live in Alaska or the cold climates, sled dog groups. These people have large packs of dogs and frequently keep them chained. They are a working animal to them, not a companion.

7) INTRODUCE YOUR ORDINANCE. Find the local commissioner who has either supported animal friendly laws or introduced animal friendly laws previously. You can also go to YOUR local commissioner. If your's is not interested, go to the next one. Find someone to "sponsor" your ordinance.

8) LOBBYING. Once you have a sponsor and bill number, lobby the other commissioners. Provide informational packets to all of them. Mobilize your group of supporters to contact their commissioners about the ordinance. You can also get national organizations to write letters for you.

9) PUBLIC HEARING. Once the ordinance is introduced, a public hearing is frequently held. Arrange for speakers on your behalf from different areas, such as animal control, cruelty investigators, dog bite victims, or a dog trainer or animal behaviorist. If there is not a public hearing, just a vote, get as many people as possible to speak.

10) THE VOTE. When you know the commissioners are going to be voting, get as many phone calls, faxes, letters, emails to go to them as possible. Make sure they know the majority of the public wants this. Enacting legislation takes a long time, maybe even years, but its worth it. Even if you lose, the public will be better educated and you can try again.

http://www.dogsdeservebetter.com/PACAbills.html

Tips on How to Go About Changing Laws for Chained Dogs
We all want better laws to prevent the 24/7 chaining of dogs. Dianne Lawrence has been working on laws in her area and gives us the benefit of what she's learned.

Suggested Items forYour Chained Dog Legislaton Packet

The Public Safety and Humane Implications of Persistently Tethering Domestic Dogs - New Mexico Department of Public Safety 01/08

The facts about Chained Dogs from HSUS

Brochures from Dogs Deserve Better

Photos and/or video of local chained dogs

Signed petitions from local voters
(sample petition in .pdf format)

How Tethering Limits Affect the Number of Loose Dogs, Dog Bites, Dogs Given Up, and Dogs Killed at Shelters: A Report on Ten Communities
(Compiled by Ambuja Rosen, February 2008)

New Richmond, OH Tethering Ordinance & Supporting Documents (03/08)
Letter to City Council
Proposed Ordinance
(passed as written 03/08)
Enforcement Data

Testimonials from those who have laws
(Compiled by Heather Carpenter, Orlando, FL DDB Rep)

Good Samaritan State Laws