Dogs chained outside face many cruelties

A dog forced to live tethered outside lives a miserable existence.

The human equivalent is living in an attic 24 hours a day without a single person coming to visit. You know people are in the house but you cannot take part in their activities no matter how much you want too. These people can be your family and you hear them living their daily lives. These same people may host parties or other special family celebrations and, after many years of heartache, you finally realize they have forgotten you exist. This is the life of a chained dog.

It does not matter if a dog is chained permanently to a tree, doghouse, pole or metal tire rim, a tied-out dog has no life. They never go for a walk, sleep inside, get fed on a regular basis, have their head lovingly petted, felt freedom, visit a groomer, go for a swim and most likely have never seen a veterinarian. It’s a terrible existence for a social domesticated animal that craves pleasing people.

Dogs are social animals that need to be stimulated mentally to stay healthy and well adjusted. Even the friendliest dog, if kept on a chain, can become neurotic or aggressive. Tied dogs must fend for themselves, including the dangers of being attacked by wildlife or abused by humans.

Tethered dogs are unprotected from the beating sun in summer and subzero temperatures in the winter. They risk strangulation and they live in a constant state of negative psychological stress. This mental strain can lead them to bite, most likely a child, or to attack another dog. Dogs by nature are territorial, and when that territory is a small four-foot circle, they will defend their space in any way that they can.

Once the dogs are saved there can be a period of adjustment. These dogs may never have been inside a house so there will be a few obstacles for them to overcome. They may be nervous of new sounds such as the vacuum, microwave, blender or even running water. Flooring such as tiles, hardwood or carpet can be unnerving and stressful for them. But, with patience, love, and a consistent routine, the dog can learn to live inside.

There are a few laws to protect dogs from living at the end of a chain, sadly, it still continues. We domesticated dogs and brought them into our homes. We trained them to protect our borders, protect our airports, assist disabled individuals, fight with our military on foreign lands and bring comfort to people struggling with post-traumatic stress disorders. Dogs do all of this and do not expect anything in return. The least we can do is protect them from harm, after all, they are man’s best friend.

Please be kind to animals.

Tracy Jessiman is a pet portrait artist who lives in Halifax with her husband and their three pets. She has been rescuing animals most of her life, but more intimately, animals rescued her.