Rather than feature an adoptable animal listed on Petfinder, today I’m mixing it up a bit. This week, I’d like to highlight the work of Dogs Deserve Better (DDB), a non-profit group which is “dedicated to freeing the chained dog, and bringing our ‘best friend’ into the home and family.”
DDB works with canine caretakers to educate them about animal behavior and health. Because chaining can prove both physically and psychologically torturous for dogs - who are, after all, pack animals - DDB’s primary goal is to free “outside” dogs from their chains and bring them inside, with the rest of their family.
Dogs Deserve Better, 2003 First Place Winner of the ASPCA/Chase Pet Protector Award, is a voice for chained and penned dogs, whose sadness speaks only through the eyes. As the days become years, many of these dogs sit, lay, eat, and defecate within the same 10-foot radius. Chained by the neck, they exist without respect, love, exercise, social interaction, and sometimes even basic nourishment. They live as prisoners, yet long to be pets.
Chaining is not only inhumane for dogs, but has taken a severe toll on this nation’s children as well. In the period from October 2003 through August 2008, there were at least 239 children killed or seriously injured by chained dogs across the country. Chained dogs, unsocialized with humans, can become very territorial of their tiny space, and any two year old who wanders into this space can be attacked and killed before adults can intervene. A recent attack in Texas in March, 2007 left 2 year old Carolina Sotello dead from head and neck wounds. She was attacked and killed by an unneutered male dog chained in the backyard, next to an unspayed female with puppies.
Would you for one second choose to live the life of these dogs? No matter what reason is given, the bottom line is that it is NOT ok to chain a dog for life. Dogs should not have to live chained or penned as prisoners, yearning for a place in a family, craving acknowledgment, respect, and love. They DESERVE BETTER, and we as caretakers have the obligation to provide it for them.
Through their outreach efforts, DDB helps dog “owners” do right by their charges, for example, by procuring and installing fencing so that tethering is unnecessary or working to solve behavioral issues that might otherwise prevent these dogs from staying inside the home, with the rest of their family. Sometimes, owners opt to surrender their dogs to DDB, who then rehomes the animals. Currently, DDB has three ex-chained dogs up for adoption in Missouri: Cody and Scooby are located in Columbia, while Miss Wendy (my mom’s name is Wendy!) is in Kansas City, MO.
Here’s Wendy’s listing:
Wendy is a Hound mix, 9-10 years old, female, spayed, UTD on shots, good with men, women, children and cats. Must go to a home without other dogs. Dog aggressive. Wendy would be perfect for an elderly person looking for a companion. Totally house-trained. Kennel trained. Location: Kansas City, MO Originally rescued from an Arkansas hoarder; lived chained for 2 years. Wendy is smart and affectionate and is content to sleep all day.
To find out more, visit DDB’s adoption page and scroll about halfway down - Wendy is sandwiched between Max from Georgia and Scooby from Missouri.
If you’d like to volunteer with DDB, or need their help with a chained dog, you can view a list of area representatives here. There are several in the KC area, including Overland Park, KS and Kansas City and Liberty, MO.
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