All Photos of Day One This Page by Joseph Horvath

Day One, August 2, 2010: Thayne's on a Chain. A-Gain (pronounced with a long A there, you know, for rhyming purposes.)

Seems like I just got off a chain. I guess Chain Off was about a month ago now, though…it just sticks in your mind.

Well, we all know why I'm here, if you read my Open Letter to PA State Senators and House Reps…and you all know what I want. And of course you want it too, right?

A big part of my purpose here is to inspire YOU ALL to take action on behalf of chained dogs…so please, please, please contact your reps, and contact them again; don't stop. They don't come back to session until September, but if we all pitch in to let them know the time for rhetoric and empty promises is done, we can get them ready to take action by then.

First things first, though, let me just tell you that I made it eleven hours without peeing today! I know, that's personal information that you really were happier not knowing, but how can I not share a record like that? If you knew me, you'd indeed know how much of a miracle that really is!

Granted, I know it can't really be a good thing for my kidneys and bladder. But still, there it is, and now you know.

And, I want to know who's pea-brained idea it was for me to fast for the dogs who are starving on a chain with no way to get food for themselves as I type? I know it was mine, but still…now I'm starving (well, very hungry at least, I know I have a buffer that the chained dogs don't have before starvation sets in) too and I don't like it. Not one bit.

I'm on the record as against keeping up the not-peeing thing, which is problematic given that I shouldn't abandon my 'stuff' for the time it takes to tinkle, and can't see myself dragging a doghouse and chain into the nearest bathroom. The dogs have it made over me in that area, what with their ability to cop a squat wherever they damn well please…as long as it's within the 10 square feet of their doghouse, of course.

Right across the street from my doghouse (hey, maybe I could get an address for my house? Like on Harry Potter…Tamira Thayne, the doghouse in the shadow of the Capitol, Harrisburg, PA) there's two establishments, the Caffeine Connection and Sammy's Authentic Italian Restaurant. Maybe one or both of them will give me bathroom privileges in exchange for mentioning them repeatedly in my blog? Which won't be hard to do, given that I'm thirsting and starving to death, and I just stare longingly and with drool hanging down my chin across the street at their tantalizing signs all day.

Anyway, I hope I don't get a bladder infection. I got this dog off a chain once who was peeing blood in the snow. The vet said he'd just gone too long without enough water and it messed him up pretty bad in the kidney zone. He was one of the lucky ones who got off the chain, into rescue, and into a home where he was able to know love and live as part of the pack. One of the very few.

Do you know what happens when you call the humane officer about the rest? Nothing. As there's no law against it, you're lucky if they even tell them there are better ways to keep a companion dog. There's no law against them educating. But most don't. Most of the time they tell the people they are fine, and you are the bad guy for reporting it. Don't believe me? Give it a go...call them about a chained dog...let me know what happens.

These dogs NEED and DESERVE a law. Period.

Each day I will sit for different dogs, dogs in different counties, etc. Today I started off for all those that have died on the end of a chain, and there are many that I know of (the guy in the sign, above, just died this winter after DDB tried to get the people to let him go but they wouldn't)—at least 5 I can think of right off the top of my head—that got old, and then just disappeared from this earth. Poor things. They never knew love, never knew laughter or hugs or a family to call their own. Rest in peace babies, we're fighting for you. We won't give up until others don't have to suffer the same fate that you did.

Odd or funny observations from today's chaining:

1. I sat down at numerous and sundry times on the oh-so-hard granite wall, but I'm confessing because it felt like cheating. But I don't think I can stop. My feet hurt too bad, and I can only pace for so long.

2. I wondered why the flags were at half-mast. I'm sure one of you smarty pants has an answer to this.

3. People were taking their lunchtime walks, going to Sammy's, and just taking their freedom for granted. Chained dogs deserve this too.

4. I didn't explain this one right in my 140 character tweet, so have to try again. Three foreign people, older people, came up and asked me in a heavy accent if I had quarters for parking. I said "No, I'm chained to this doghouse." They wanted to know why, so I explained it. The woman agreed with me, and took a paper. Then she said, "It would be good if you had coins too." lol

5. Note to self. Obviously, wearing white shirts in the rain isn't a good policy. Granted, Weatherbug said only a 30% chance today, but obviously the bug was wrong. Plus, the chain kept unbuttoning my shirt. Embarrassing! And, it was ruined by the rust.

6. Really, really, REALLY not looking forward to that all day rain. I couldn't sit down at all when it rained, so I had to pace the whole time, and I think it rained for half an hour…what am I going to do in the all day rain?

7. Joe came up and took pics for me, and I just wondered if I ever mentioned how much I love that man?

I'm SO glad I don't have to go back tomorrow…oh, shit, wait!

The day's tweets, in reverse order:

1. Day One, Operation Fido's Freedom: Thayne's on a Chain. A-Gain (pronounced with a long A there, you know, for... http://fb.me/Db2lM0bS 9:11 PM Aug 2nd

2.   
Ten hours! First Day done. I'm pretty sure that was really ten lifetimes disguised as a day. Contact ur pa senator to support sb1435 4:55 PM Aug 2nd via

3.   
Got drenched in first of many downpours to endure. Not looking forward to those all day rains. Note to self: white shirts not good in rain. 2:51 PM Aug 2nd

4.   
The best! Do you have quarters for parking? No. I explain why I'm here. She says she's a doglover, then "would be good if you had coins too. 12:51 PM Aug 2nd

5.   
Half way done for the day. The chain keeps unhooking my shirt buttons. How embarrasing! 12:01 PM Aug 2nd

6.   
Mario scavello, sponsor of hb1254 and hb1065 just came by. He said "don't do that." I said "I'm doing it. I'll be here every day." 10:59 AM Aug 2nd

7.   
There are three news stations here, apparently not for me but for someone called the governor. Alas. Just felt a drop of rain. 10:34 AM Aug 2nd

8.   
If you're interested in Tami's Tweets of Operation Fido's Freedom follow me on twitter at tamirathayne. Battery... http://fb.me/Ew9ppkps 10:09 AM Aug

9.   
A woman just asked me if we gave tours. I gave her a tour of my doghouse. Then she went into the Capitol. http://www.fidosfreedom.com 10:05 AM Aug 2nd

10.   
Capitol wall says "Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither." dogs deserve freedom! 9:36 AM Aug 2nd

11.   
The state Capitol in Harrisburg has free wifi. Good to know when you're laying siege. Lol 8:48 AM Aug 2nd

12.   
Bored as f already. Only infinity left to go. Will be here M-F 8-6, and will be fasting for those dogs who go without food and water. 8:40 AM Aug

13.   
It's 8:42 am on August 2, 2010. The Capitol in Harrisburg is coming alive. I sit by this saying "where liberty... http://fb.me/wGTUr7rD 7:45 AM Aug 2nd

14.   
Day one, today I sit for all those dogs who've died at the end of a chained, never knowing love, hugs, or kisses. http://fb.me/DHf8bwsc 7:40 AM Aug 2nd via

 

Find your Senator and House Rep at: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/
Please contact them TODAY and tell them “I’m here for their law.”
Remember, they work FOR us. Insist that they support SB1435.

I will be actively blogging, facebooking, and tweeting daily from my chain.
To follow me, fan me, or read the nightly blog, check out the links below:

Follow the campaign, Operation Fidos Freedom on:

Can you donate for this campaign which aims to save tens of thousands of dogs from life at the end of the chain? To donate by phone, call 814.941.7447.

Dogs Deserve Better is a 501c3 nonprofit organization.
To donate by mail, send check made out to Dogs Deserve Better,
P.O. Box 23, Tipton, PA 16684