Dog Tethering: Dangers for Citizens,
Cruel to Animals A solution is on the horizon

It’s morning; you’re listening to the dog barking and recall when this sweet, innocent puppy was brought to your neighbor’s house.  Slowly over the years you have watched it languish, tethered, an ornament in the yard.  In the winter, bloody paw prints left on the ice, marked the walking path toward frozen water bowls. In the summer, the heat bore down on the dog house with no shade for relief and only sporadic sources of water provided.
You’re walking your child to school when you pass a house with a tethered dog. He rises and viciously lunges forward, barking, straining his collar.  You pull your child close to you and pray the chain does not break.
You’ve called the Animal Control officer, who has warned the owners about tethering their dog for unreasonable periods of time. Beyond this and unless the officer can prove abuse, the CT law provides him with no other alternatives.
Why should you care? In September 2000 the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association reported 17 percent of dogs involved in fatal attacks on humans between 1979 and 1998 were restrained on their owner’s property at the time of the attack. Tethered dogs become territorial of their little patch of space. Frequently, it is a young child who suffers, unknowingly entering into dangerous territory before parents have time to react.
Dogs are naturally social animals that thrive on interaction with people and other animals.  When tethered for hours, days, months and in some cases years, a sweet, loving dog will suffer not only physically but also psychologically, showing signs of neurosis, depression, anxiety, and aggression.
Beyond this, the animal suffers terribly.  Horrific reports about the physical condition of rescued dogs and the unthinkable living situations forced upon them fill animal control officers’ records.  Besides this, tethered dogs are easy targets for thieves looking to make a profit selling them to research institutions or training fodder for organized animal fights.  They can strangle when their restraint becomes entangled and are vulnerable to attack from other animals.
There are no positive reasons for tethering your dog.  Many people believe that they are caring for an animal by keeping him outside but, unless you are with him and caring for his well being you are endangering your pet and potentially other people.
Connecticut’s tethering law needs to be substantially strengthened. Currently Connecticut’s tethering law  is very vague and animal control officers are not able to enforce it. As a result, dogs in our state can be chained or confined outside all day and all night. This not only is cruel to the animals but poses a public safety risk, as chained dogs are three times more likely to bite people.
Our Companions Domestic Animal Sanctuary, Connecticut Votes for Animals in cooperation with Animal Control Officers  have drafted language that would dramatically improve the current law, making it an enforceable and effective law that would protect both dogs and citizens.
An improved tethering bill benefits all. It helps the animals, provides greater protection for our communities’ citizens and gives animal control officers the legal where-with-all to protect those animals that cannot protect themselves.
To receive a draft of Connecticut Votes for Animals proposed tethering language, or to become a member of CT Votes for Animals, visit. www.ctvotesforanimals.org or email susanl@ourcompanions.org.
CT Votes for Animals is a 501(c )(4) nonprofit, nonpartisan organizations that has a mission to mobilize the public to support animals through their political choices. Learn more at www.ctvotesforanimals.org.
Our Companions Domestic Animal Sanctuary is a 501 (c )(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to lead a humane movement to protect and advocate for the lives of companion animals. Learn more at www.ourcompanions.org.