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Chain Off 2009
Freedom for Chained Dogs the World Over

Cookeville, Tennesee
June 27, 2009

Hello Everyone,

Something I didn't tell the papers...
 
Just after dark, all of my neighborhood 'outside' dogs start calling out to each other, barking and yipping and howling.  One group started and then came an answer from the group a couple blocks away, and so on.  And it goes on like this, unnoticed or simply ignored by the humans in the area, all night long.  Even by me, before now.  So they all carry on, like a party line, sharing news and telling stories I assume, except for this one dog... this one poor soul... who just barked.  And he barked. And he barked and barked and barked.  And it wasn't a news telling kind of bark.  He was not sharing where the best mud puddles were or that sweet rabbit hole he found...  He just barked.  This mindless, monotone, maddening bark that didn't say anything to anyone... He just barked and barked because maybe his people have ignored his barks for so long that they have lost all meaning... so he made noise to let it be known he was still alive.  Maybe he was just telling himself that.  I cried for this dog.  I still cry for this dog.  I have no idea where he is... but I named him Tommy.  I named him Tommy after The Who's rock opera.  I named him Tommy because I heard in his barks him saying "See Me. Hear Me. Touch Me. Heal me."  And, oh God, I wanted to.  I wanted to rip off that chain and find him and comfort him and stop his hurting.  But I committed to the cause and I had to complete my time.  So I did.  But I'll tell you all this...  I will find him.  I will not stop until I do. I think he is to the Northwest of my home and probably about a 3/4 to a mile away by the sound and the way the wind carried that night.  I will find him and I will let him know - I heard him.  Dogs DO deserve better.  
 
With love for the critters.....
Tracy Clark

 

Animal advocate chains herself up for a day
By: Megan Trotter, Herald-Citizen Staff, Sunday, Jul 05, 2009

link to article

COOKEVILLE-- Tracy Clark drew some stares this past Saturday while hanging out in her front yard in Cookeville. She spent 24 hours there, chained to a dog house.

Clark was participating in Dogs Deserve Better's annual "Chain Off" -- a nation-wide demonstration to raise awareness about the cruelty dogs endure when chained up for long periods of time or when forced to live out their entire lives chained up outdoors. People around the country are participating in this week-long demonstration that started Saturday, June 27, and will continue until Sunday, July 12.

Clark has been an advocate for animals for about the last five years, though she also is active in raising funds for human issues like breast cancer and Parkinson's Disease research. This was the first year she had participated in the annual Chain Off demonstration. Participants can decide to hold the awareness demonstration at home or to gather in large groups. Clark decided to stay at home this time.

"Being in my own front yard, being able to look in my front door and see my family walking about, I really was able to get what the dogs go through seeing their pack, their family, going inside and (the dog) just being ostracized and left out. It's really heartbreaking. It's truly heartbreaking to sit there and see everyone else interacting or having family time and (you) being a part of that family, but not being allowed to be a part," said Clark.

"Especially around midnight when everyone went to bed, (I was) watching the lights click off one by one while I was just sitting out there by myself. I actually cried. It really got to me then how much these animals suffer emotionally as well as physically."

During her time outdoors Clark's husband, Bob, brought her food periodically and her brother, Tom Cavanaugh, stopped by to eat lunch with her. She was also glad to get a visit from her four dogs who did not understand why Clark was outside by herself.

"They were very upset seeing me out there, which I felt was really ironic," she said.

Aside from her family's occasional company and a few visits from coworkers who dropped by to cheer her on, Clark was alone with no way to quickly pass the time. She was not allowed any "fun" items such as books, television, computers or a cell phone.

"I had literally nothing to do. The boredom was absolutely staggering. Just not being able to call anyone or text message anyone or check my e-mail, it was brutal," Clark said.

She only got about two hours of sleep in that 24 hour period, was badly sunburned and said even though she had a steady supply of water, she became dehydrated in the blazing sun -- the heat index at her home read 107 degrees that day.

"I watched the sun come up. I probably felt more despondent at that moment than any other moment because I knew that it was going to be hot again and I would be alone again for a couple of hours before anybody came to get me. It was rough," she said.

However, despite the hardships, Clark intends to do it all again next year, this time joining with more people to make a "pack" of protesters. She hopes her demonstration will cause people to stop and think before chaining their dogs outside for inhumane amounts of time.

"Your animals are part of your family as well. When you bring them into your home, you're making the commitment. You're making a promise to that animal to provide for it and sometimes providing is a pat on the head and a long walk on a leash. It's not a matter of just food and water. That's just the bare essentials."