Lori Hensley

HSUS North Carolina State Director Amanda Arrington and Jasmine, a dog who now gets to live in a fenced yard instead of on a chain, thanks to a group founded by Arrington.

By Julie Hauserman 

When she was growing up in rural Texas, Amanda Arrington saw relatives and neighbors keeping their dogs outside on chains. And it always bothered her.

"It hit me hard to see how these animals lived," said Arrington, the new North Carolina state director for The HSUS. "The dogs spent their whole lives on chains and some even gave birth to puppies while shackled. My passion to help animals began there, and I started rescuing them. Today, I'm determined to continue educating people how to confront the mistreatment of animals.

Arrington's animal welfare efforts are already hard at work in her new role. She is beginning to tackle several new issues, including encouraging restaurants to use cage-free eggs, re-establishing a statewide animal fighting task force, and eliminating outdated gas chambers used for euthanasia in shelters.

"I believe legislation is the key to making real advancements in the fight for animal protection," Arrington says. "I am committed to making a difference for the animals."

Amanda is already plugged into North Carolina's animal welfare community. She is chair of the Durham County Animal Control Advisory Committee and is a board member of the Independent Animal Rescue and director of its community spay neuter program.

Opening the Doors to Change

When Amanda first moved east, to Durham, she became involved with a citywide neighborhood group. The conversation at the opening meeting turned to a perennial issue: dogs who bark incessantly. The answer became obvious as she drove around the neighborhood and saw dog after dog chained up in their back yards. She knew she had to help these animals.

"At first, I made flyers and went door to door," she said. "Some of the neighborhoods were pretty rough and I'd be met with doors cracked open only a smidge. The next time doors would open a little more and then finally all the way. I just kept going back, and people respected that. Now, I've made friends in these neighborhoods."

It was after this experience that Arrington founded the Coalition to Unchain Dogs in 2006, now operating in several counties throughout North Carolina. Coalition volunteers teach communities about the damaging effects of chaining. They provide free labor and materials to fence in yards. The group also works to pass tougher chaining legislation. In its first year, Arrington says, the coalition freed more than 75 dogs from their chains.

Arrington's good works on behalf of chained dogs are getting noticed. She won the Interneighborhood Council of Durham's Good Neighbor Award for her animal work and leadership in building coalitions between animal welfare groups and other citizen groups there.

The HSUS—and animals of North Carolina—are lucky to have Amanda on their side.