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| ©Dogs Deserve Better |
| In cold weather, the best place for a dog is indoors, with people. |
By Adam Goldfarb
On a recent trip to the mountain town of Steamboat Springs, Colo, I was pleased to see so many dogs spending quality time with their people. Labradors and Golden Retrievers hiked through the woods with their families, cattle dogs rode shotgun in pick-up trucks. Even the car rental place had an office dog greeting customers. Despite the abundance of canines in town, I did not see a single dog chained up outside. And that's really encouraging.
With the cold winter months fast-approaching—or already here in some parts of the country—it's important to remember that the best place for dogs is indoors, with us.
Baby, It's Cold Outside
Frigid temperatures, snowstorms and wind chill all add to the misery of a chained dog's existence. Even though Arctic breeds, like Siberian huskies and Alaskan malamutes are better suited to cold weather and may enjoy spending longer periods of time outdoors than their short-haired brethren, they should still be spending the majority of their lives indoors as part of a family.
It goes without saying that shorter-haired dogs, as well as older dogs, puppies and arthritic or sick dogs are at greater risk of serious harm from the cold. In the worst scenarios, water bowls freeze, dogs get stuck to their metal chains or even die, frozen to the ground.
When dogs are left chained outside, they sit alone on the end of a chain or rope, denied constant and regular companionship that they crave. Dogs are highly social animals, and when they're isolated outdoors on a chain, they can suffer from loneliness, boredom and anxiety—no way for a dog to live.
Dogs who are continuously tethered, who live apart from their human family day after day, are more likely to bite when someone wanders into their minuscule space in the world or when their chain breaks and they are suddenly roaming alone.
States Step Up Against Chaining
The good news is that more communities like Steamboat are taking action to help chained dogs. Legislators and towns are passing state laws and ordinances in great numbers. So far this year, Maryland, Texas and Tennessee have passed new state-wide laws to help chained dogs. Currently more than 100 local ordinances in more than 30 states address the practice of chaining, with more passing every day.
Help With Our Free Kit
If you're concerned about a specific chained dog in your area or you'd just like to help all dogs, now is a great time to request our free kit "A Dog's Life: Chaining and Your Community." This guide offers step-by-step instructions on how local legislation works, the problems associated with dog chaining, a guide to testifying before a local council, and much more.
Our kit is free and you can download or request your copy on our website.
My recent trip to the Centennial State reminded me of all of the fun that dogs can have in the winter. Rolling in the snow has its charms for dogs and kids alike, but only when they both get to come in from the cold and curl up with family afterward.
Adam Goldfarb is an issues specialist for the Companion Animals section of The HSUS.
