Tomorrow’s column will discuss the issue. The photos below make up something of a compare-and-contrast essay on the subject, in pictures.

Dr. Pinkleton,

If your dogs are well treated (as they most assuredly must be), then I cannot see any reason that you would take personal offense to the article.  Perhaps you feel a greater need to defend your actions simply because of your profession?  Perhaps you have dealt with ignorance in the past from folks on the other end of the spectrum that think all dogs should be worshipped and given freedom to roam wherever they choose, regardless of the dogs’ best interest? 

Of course I read both your posts and you said it yourself, “in certain cases chains are the best choice for dogs.”  I would suggest to you that this implies the number of dogs BETTER off in this situation is few and far between.  The posts by you and some others referring to “certain” or “some” cases minimize the reality of the abuse of thousands of dogs.  Can we at least agree that the majority of owners who chain (not tether) their dogs are being cruel and that THAT is the focus of this discussion?

(“involved”...... touche!)

Dichelle, I don’t think you read both my posts so I think you missed my point, so I will try again because to me this issue is an important one because I have dedicated my entire life to pet care and it is not just a hobby to me.

To quote from Mr. Hinkle’s article, “the sort of person who chains a dog for months on end isn’t the sort of person with a keen sensitivity to the ethics of virtue-and people with a keen sensitivity to the ethics of virtue aren’t the ones chaining dogs for months on end.“

Well I chain some of my dogs for months on end, indeed some of my dogs are chained every day for all their life.  They are not abused, they are loved and cherished as much as any pet owned by the author or anyone else posting on this board.  So what exactly gives someone the right to tell me that because my pets are chained that I am not “the sort of person with a keen sensitivity to the ethics of virtue?“  Should I not be insulted by that?  I am a veterinarian and have worked with thousands upon thousands of pets in my life and have a very firm grasp upon what is proper pet care and what is cruel and what is not, and based upon those years of experience I am telling you that some dogs are BETTER off chained than in fenced yards or kennels and a previous post is a good example. 

Bottom line, neglecting a pet and not showing them any attention is inexcusable,whether you lock them in a room, leave them in a kennel, or tie them on a chain.  Abusing a pet is inexcusable, no matter where and how you keep them.  Chaining a pet, however, in and of itself is not bad and in some cases it is the “preferred” and safest way of containment for certain pets.  To paint all the individuals that tie their pets out as insensitive to the ethics of virture is irresposible and I resent it.  Sorry I am so worked up but to me this is an important issue and I feel strongly about it. 

And by the way, the word I had to enter was “involved.“

It is becoming clear from these posts that there is a world of difference in make-do chains with inadaquate lengths and owners who who just leave them there all the time and swivil cables of generous length that don’t allow the dog to become entangled and who have owners who take the time to let them off for play and excercise. I still don’t like chains, but I can see the necessity sometimes and the vast difference being loved and provided for adaquately makes to a chained dog. I had not considered that the ideal large fenced-in yard might not work for the Houdini dogs.

However, I still say that anyone who harms an animal deserves to lose their freedom.They have earned our scorn and contempt.

Apparently some of you feel compelled to dispute articles you haven’t even read… did you stop after reading the title and decide to chime in?

Although Mr. Hinkle doesn’t need me to defend him, I do feel compelled to point out that any halfway intelligent person making use of their God-given common sense, would read yesterday’s editorial and comprehend the message.  To quote the article, “You could try to get the legislature to pass a law, since it seems like a there-oughtta-be-a-law situation. Except it really isn’t…” 

“Except it really isn’t…”  To me it’s pretty clear that Hinkle is NOT advocating anti-chaining laws.  Further, he refers to “wanton cruelty and pointless suffering” of abandoned and abused dogs.  “Bella” from the earlier post and Pinkleton’s reference to competition dogs are obviously the exception rather than the rule.

So get your arses off your shoulders and let’s discuss the REAL issue of neglected dogs.  The vast majority of dogs left on a chain ARE indeed living miserable lives—let’s talk about that instead of the 1% that are exceptions.

(Here’s some irony: the verification phrase that I have to type in to post this is “enough81.“  LOL)

This was in one post, “Laws should address neglect and cruelty inflicted on animals, not the manner of confinement.“

I couldn’t agree more.  I discussed the article with my children (12 and 14) last night and how well meaning folks can sometimes cause a world of problems for others without meaning to.  There are many instances, such in the post below, where chains, or cables, are by far the best option for the pet.  I really hate to see people led to believe that tying a pet out is not responsible by a writer as widely read as Mr. Hinkle.  I am still fuming about it.  I am hoping Mr. Hinkle will do a follow up to clarify to his readers that not all of us who chain dogs are inprisoning or mistreating our dogs.

By the way, a lot of the comments on this blog keep talking about abandoning a dog, or how lonely they are on a chain.  I have no idea what this means since with a chain there is no physical barrier between you and the pet and it is easier to play with them than in a kennel?  What does being on a chain have to do with whether you play with the dog or not, and how much attention you show them?  At pretty much any field trial and many dog shows dogs are put on leads or cables while waiting their turn, is this cruel too?

Neighbor.  Mine.  With a sweetheart of a dog.  Big, happy mutt.  Well loved.

Every morning, dog goes outside to large fenced backyard when family leaves for work/school.  Backyard includes doghouse, dog toys, water bucket, big pine trees. 

Every evening, husband walks dog in nearby park.  Every night, dog comes inside and sleeps in oldest son’s bedroom. 

One day, meter reader leaves gate open.  Family comes home, searches frantically for dog.  Whew!  Finds her.

Next day, dog is out of fence again, sitting on front porch waiting for family.  Dug hole under fence.  Hole is filled.

Dog continues to escape every day while family is at work/school.  Dog goes exploring.  Family installs landscaping timbers around base of fence.  Dog jumps fence.  Neighborhood covenants limit fences to four feet, so cannot make fence taller.

Family takes dog to training classes. Dog continues to jump fence.  Gets hit by car.  Thank goodness, only scrapes and bruises.

Husband installs pole with swivel on top to tether dog.  Swivel prevents tether from tangling.  Dog still gets in doghouse, plays with toys, drinks water, and eliminates in small section of 12-foot diameter circle of tether. 

Dog has more square feet on tether than in oldest son’s bedroom where they sleep at night.  Dog does not escape anymore to go exploring.

Family comes home from work/school.  Dog is safe.  Husband scoops poop before taking dog for walk.  Dog sleeps inside at night as usual.  Life is good again.

If anti-tethering law is passed, does dog:

1) Get released from tether to be hit by car again?
2) Get confined to house all day without bathoom break?
3) Get dumped in shelter?
4) Get packed up and moved to another city where sensible laws prevail?

This dog, Bella, is happy and well adjusted.  On days when the oldest son has ball practice, she is on her tether under the pine trees for as much as 12 hours.  She drinks her water, chews her bones, and plays with her toys.  She goes in, out and on top of her doghouse, has plenty of room to avoid stepping in her feces, and trots back and forth watching squirrels in the trees above her.

On weekends, she is rarely on the tether, because she is inside with her family, out for car rides, walking in the park, and doing all the things a well-loved dog does.

Too many bad people neglect dogs, leave them standing in their own waste, fail to provide food and water, inflict harm, and other atrocities.  Bad people do these things to fenced dogs, caged dogs, dogs confined to bathrooms and basements, and yes, sometimes to tethered dogs. 

But the act of tethering in and of itself is not cruelty.

Bella, on her tether, is a happy, safe, dog.  Good people take good care of their dogs, and use tethering appropriately.

Laws should address neglect and cruelty inflicted on animals, not the manner of confinement.

Can you teach others how to comunicate with their animals?

I want to ask my cat if she is depressed because she sleeps 3/4 of the day away.

I would like to know whats bothering her.

As an animal communicator, I work with many of the rescue organizations to help solve problems associated with the lasting effects of living on a chain.  This brings about serious behavioral changes in once loving and trusting animals.  Thank you so much for bringing this to the general plublics attention.  As part of the rescue community, I am aware of how serious an issue this continues to be.  Unless we all begin to take an active part to eliminate this problem it will continue.  I cannot understand why someone gets an animal and then subjects it to a life of lonliness.  I am in hopes your article will be a eye-opener to those who are not aware of the many irresponsible pet owners out there!

i agree with the article i think it is so sad and should be a law. i you cain a dog why get one in the first place. it is just mean an herts me in my heart as a animal lover.

Larry, I think you missed the point of my post.  I am not “encouraging” violence towards anyone.

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