Thousands of chained dogs will receive a very special valentine this year, thanks to Dogs Deserve Better.

The Pennsylvania-based non-profit that created the Have a Heart for Chained Dogs campaign in 2002 is asking animal lovers to help educate dog owners about the problems associated with continuously chaining or tethering a dog.

One way that individuals or groups can participate is by creating handmade valentines to be mailed to chained dogs. If a valentine can convince an owner to unchain their pooch, a dog could be freed from a life of isolation, sadness, boredom and frustration.

"Winter is a critical time to reach out directly to the people who chain their dogs, and what better excuse than Valentine's Day to send these forgotten animals a little love," said Tammy Grimes, founder and director of the 5-year-old non-profit.

"Every winter our rescuers see dogs that have frozen in the snow, suffered frostbite or otherwise endured horrific living conditions because of the longstanding misperception that it is appropriate to chain a dog outside in any kind of weather."

"This is the perfect opportunity for people who pass chained dogs every day, or who live next door to these poor animals, but feel powerless to make a difference," said Grimes.

"People can anonymously provide us with the addresses of these dogs or perhaps make a batch of valentines, and we do the rest." 

Sharing the Love

By the end of January, the group is seeking to have 10,000 addresses for perpetually chained dogs. The group also needs volunteers to make the valentines and requests donations of coupons for dog treats or dog food.

After they're sent in, the valentines are delivered by Dogs Deserve Better—along with a brochure and dog treat coupon—to addresses provided by animal lovers in the U.S. and Canada.

Why Chaining Hurts Dogs

As social animals, dogs need to have regular interactions with their family. Dogs who are left chained up in their yard experience periods of boredom, loneliness and isolation, which eventually lead to territorial and aggressive behaviors.

Countless communities across the U.S. have enacted ordinances to address the issues related to dog chaining.

How You Can Help

There are many ways you can help during the Have a Heart For Chained Dogs campaign. Check out the green box to the right, which includes suggestions like making valentines, mailing in coupons, sending addresses of houses with chained or penned dogs, sponsoring Valentines and downloading a free kit to help you stop chaining in your neighborhood.

Since last year, Dogs Deserve Better delivered more than 7,300 valentines to penned or chained dogs. The group is stressing quality over quantity this year, saying it would rather have 10,000 "awesome valentines that really hit home with dog caretakers."

To see what others have done, visit the Dogs Deserve Better website. If you'd like to participate, send your dog treat or food coupons by Feb. 5 to P.O. Box 23, Tipton, PA 16684. 

Or, take the time to find out the address of that chained or penned dog near you. Send addresses via mail, call 877-636-1408, or e-mail them to info@dogsdeservebetter.org. You will remain anonymous.

The cost of this campaign is quite high, due to material and mailing fees. You may either sponsor valentines for the addresses you provide or sponsor valentines for others who provide addresses.

The HSUS also encourages you to download a free kit to help chained dogs in your neighborhood. If you want to help ensure that pooches in your community live inside with their families, download a free copy of "The Guide to a Dog's Life: Chaining and Your Community," a comprehensive, step-by-step guide on how to pass an anti-chaining ordinance in your area—and start helping dogs now!