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Operation Fido's Freedom Media Central Woman Chains Herself to a Doghouse By Diane Herbst | Tuesday, September 14, 2010 5:30 AM ET Tamira Thayne might look crazy standing in heat waves and rain storms tied to a doghouse. But she's doing it to persuade Pennsylvania lawmakers to vote for a law limiting the amount of time dogs can be tied up outside, oftentimes without food or water. Torrents of rain soak Tamira Thayne's blue skirt and white shirt as she stands chained to a doghouse on the steps of the Pennsylvania capitol. Later, on her 19th day chained to the wooden structure, the temperature — with no shade to take refuge — tops 99 degrees. "It pretty much sucks," says Thayne, 46, on a quest to pass a law to end the 24-hour-a-day practice of outdoor chaining of dogs. "Many many dogs don't have a dog house to go into and they're pretty much stuck out there. It's a helpless feeling." Thayne, founder of the Tipton, Pennsylvania-based Dogs Deserve Better, an anti-chaining organization, has been tied to the doghouse Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. since Aug. 2. Her goal is passing of the pending legislation that would make round-the-clock chaining illegal in Pennsylvania. "Somehow we have to show (lawmakers) the cruelty of this," says Thayne, who has spent six years unsuccessfully lobbying legislators for a chaining limit law. "Trying to make them care is very very frustrating." She will be standing in her spot at the Capitol entryway when lawmakers return to work on Sept. 20 and beyond, until they pass the legislation, or there is no more hope for a law. "She's dedicated and tenacious," says Mary Jo McClain, on the board of directors of the Central Pennsylvania Animal Alliance. "I'm glad there is a person who is so committed, who gets out there and explains what chained dogs have to do endure day in and day out." Thayne's dogged determination began in 2002 while living next door to a chained dog. "Watching him suffer every day, it was just unbelievable and inhumane and it had to stop," she says. "He was really my impetus." Since that time, Thayne — mother of an 11-year-old daughter and a 17- year-old son — has rescued some 150 chained dogs who are either sent to new homes or die at her house. "They just stay with me," she says, "if they don't get a home." She also has hundreds volunteers across the country affiliated with Dogs Deserve Better who rescue chained dogs in their own areas. While Thayne admits she can't rescue every chained dog she sees— "It pains me to see every one of them," she says, she will save any dog who is dying if authorities refuse to do their job, which often happens. In 2006, she was arrested for rescuing a dog chained for 13 years, dying and in dire need of medical help. Thayne took him to a vet for treatment while the owners were away. She refused to return the dog to the family. That rescue led to her arrest for theft and receiving stolen property, and while she served no jail time, she had to perform community service and recently applied for a pardon. "What happened to me was painful and humiliating and shameful," Thayne says. "But knowing I did the right thing for that dog, it made me even more determined." A woman chained to a doghouse on a state capitol's steps has, not surprisingly, made her a celebrity in Harrisburg. Mail carriers have delivered over 60 letters to Thayne simply addressed to the lady chained to the dog house on the Capitol steps, many with messages to stay strong. There is even a box for her in the statehouse mail room. "They want to make me look like a criminal," she says. "But I am just a woman with a heart and a soul." Dogs Deserve Better Founder Reported by: Angie Koehle HARRISBURG - Tamira Thayne has a chain around her neck, the other end is attached to a dog house. She's spending 8 hours a day at the bottom of the state capitol steps. "I'm going to be here indefinitely. The Senate isn't expected to get back until September 20th. I'm here now. I'm rallying the troops. I'm getting supporters to call their senators to tell them that's what they want. Thayne, formerly known as Tammy Grimes, is a well known animal rights activist from Blair County. She founded the group Dogs Deserve Better. Her goal is to make it illegal to tether dogs. Though the bill she's pushing for is what she considers weak, she said it's a step in the right direction. "It would only prohibit chaining from 10 pm to 6 in the morning," she said. Thayne received national attention from a criminal case in Blair County in 2007. She stole a dog that was chained, and what she considered, sick. She was convicted. But it hasn't hindered her efforts. She said she won't stop until all dogs are off chains. "It is a major commitment. I basically have to give up my whole life. But I have kind of done that for chained dogs anyway. They're my mission in life. I don't think any animal should have to live it's life on the end of a chain," she said.
Woman demonstrates at Pennsylvania's Capitol Published: Thursday, September 02, 2010, 10:18 PM After more than three weeks, Tamira Ci Thayne remains chained to a doghouse outside the state Capitol without food, in demonstration of the harsh conditions dogs face when chained for long hours. She has lost 10 pounds. She has stayed out in the searing heat and pouring rain. But she remains determined. “Many dogs starve at the end of a chain,” said Thayne, 46. “And if they’re lucky they’ll get one drink of water a day.” Thayne is the founder and CEO of Dogs Deserve Better in Tipton, Blair County, which is dedicated to freeing dogs from chains and bringing them into the home. She says she will remain in front of the Capitol from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday until a dog-tethering bill is passed or until she can’t go on any longer. The Legislature will not be back in session until mid-September. But Thayne wants people to start calling their legislators so by the time they get back, they will see that she’s been there for over 30 days and she’s serious. Six other states already have laws in place against tethering of dogs. California’s law bars chaining dogs outside for more than three hours in a 24-hour time period. Nevada’s law requires dogs to be on chains of no less than 12 feet. After six years of getting no results from lobbying legislators to enact a similar law in Pennsylvania, she decided to do the chain-off. And she is drawing attention from those passing by the Capitol. Laurent Gervais of Canada thinks she’s surely making a statement. “You should never leave your dog chained and alone. There needs to be more people like her,” Gervais said on a visit to Harrisburg this week. But not everyone thinks so kindly of her. Thayne recalls someone insisting that dogs like being chained and someone yelling out their window for her to get a job. A Snyder County man walking by said he thinks she’s crazy. He added, “This is no way for a human being to act.” Alfred Dalberto said he sees the point she is trying to make but thinks it might be a little drastic. “Not only is she endangering her health, but is her suffering really going to change anything for dogs suffering?” Dalberto said. Braving the heat and rain has been difficult, but Thayne wants to emulate the real conditions many dogs face. But she acknowledges that she has an 11-year-old daughter and a 17- year-old son at home who would like to have her back. “I look forward to the day I’m not doing this,” Thayne said. “But I want them to look at me and say, ‘Hey this lady’s suffering.’ ” Senate Bill 1435, which has been sent to the state Senate’s agriculture committee, would ban chaining dogs in temperatures below 32 degrees or above 90 degrees and during weather advisories and warnings. Violations would be punishable by up to a $750 fine and/or up to 90 days’ imprisonment, as well as possible forfeiture of the dog. Since being chained, she has received words of support and 14 letters from people who appreciate her efforts. She also has received some monetary donations for her nonprofit organization. Some people check on her during the day, with several bringing her drinks. Mark Shaffer of Boiling Springs is a volunteer at the Humane Society of Harrisburg Area. He helps Thayne set up her doghouse every morning and checks on her periodically throughout the day. “She’s doing a wonderful thing,” Shaffer said. “I think the Legislature needs to know that this is an important issue that people care about.” Thayne has no plans to quit until the bill becomes law. “I know I can walk away from this at any time, but I’m committed,” she said. -- By Ashley Mannings, For The Patriot-News Blogs - State House Sound Bites Tamira Thayne has given new meaning to the phrase “dog days of summer.” For more than three weeks now, she has chained herself to a dog house in front of the state Capitol. She’s stood there in the blistering sun and in the pouring rain. She’s been pointed at, laughed at and interviewed – but the latter has only happened once or twice since the first week of her vigil, when she received heavy news coverage. “If I was only doing this for the media attention, I would have packed up on day three,” she said. “I’m doing this for the dogs. I’m here for the dogs. I’m here for their law. And I’m not going away, no matter how boring it is. And let me tell you, it’s very boring. “ POSTED: 11:42 am EDT August 25, 2010 HARRISBURG, Pa. -- A lone protester who has chained herself to a doghouse on the Capitol steps in Harrisburg is starting to get mail sent to her there. Tamira Thayne has received two letters addressed to: The first letter arrived Tuesday. A worker in the Capitol mailroom approached Thayne, saying "I think this is for you." The letter of encouragement had been sent from a woman in Illinois, who said she learned on Facebook about Thayne's efforts to convince lawmakers to make it illegal for dog owners to keep the animals chained up around the clock or in harsh conditions. On Wednesday, a second letter arrived. That one came from a supporter in York, Pa., telling Thayne to, "Stay strong." While Thayne may not be having the effect on lawmakers that she wants, her protest has led to one change -- there is now a mailbox set aside for her in the Capitol mailroom. Woman Chains Herself to Dog House in Protest posted by: Megan Drake, Care2.com What would you do if you saw a dog chained up outside with little or no food and water, day after day, in all types of weather? Faced with that reality eight years ago, Tamira Ci Thayne decided she had to do something. She founded Dogs Deserve Better (DDB), an animal advocacy organization dedicated to helping dogs forced to live life at the end of a chain. She now has chapters in just about every state. Aside from actually rescuing, fostering, and adopting out chained dogs, Thayne also found political action is necessary. And Operation Fido's Freedom is the campaign she's waging. In Thayne's ongoing efforts to get Pennsylvania Senate Bill 1435 passed, Thayne is making a statement. She chained herself to a dog house and placed it on the steps of the capitol building in Harrisburg. She's committed to staying there until action happens on SB1435. When the bill is passed, she will gladly leave. "In solidarity with chained dogs, I will fast while chained because so many chained dogs go without food or water," Thayne told me via telephone. "It's the lucky ones that get some food and water as often as once a day." Since August 2, on Monday's through Friday's, between 8:00 am and 6:00 pm, Thayne is chained to her dog house on the steps of the Harrisburg legislative building. Extreme? Yes. But Thayne is so dedicated to this cause she is willing to go to immeasurable lengths to achieve her goal. The goal, of course -- no more chained dogs anywhere! Progress is Slow Six states now have anti-tethering laws on the books: California, Connecticut, Nevada, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia. And some communities throughout the U.S. have anti-tethering laws. But Thayne watched this particular anti-tethering bill languish in the Pennsylvania House and Senate committees for the last six years. And she's had enough. Enduring all types of weather -- just as all chained dogs do -- Thayne has sat on the steps at Harrisburg through sweltering 95 degree days, as well as drenching rain storms. As Thayne begins week five of her demonstration in Harrisburg, she appears to be making some headway. She started receiving mail from supporters addressed to "The Lady Chained to the Dog House at the Steps of the Pennsylvania State Capitol." She's even added a mailbox to her dog house. How You Can Help What Thayne needs is for people to call, write and email their senators asking that SB1435 leave committee and go to the Senate for a full vote. The chairman of the agricultural and rural affairs committee -- where this bill sits -- is Senator Michael Brubaker (R-36). Sign the Care2 petition and tell Senator Brubaker you want to see this anti-tethering bill passed into law. But don't stop there. Pennsylvania residents, you can find your senators and representatives by visiting the Pennsylvania Senate website. A complete listing of their email addresses is located there. And if you want to do more, Senator Brubaker's Harrisburg office phone number is 717-787-4420. His fax number is 717-783-3156. And his email address is mbrubaker@pasen.gov. Numbers talk. The more requests for passage of this bill, the better. So even out-of-state residents can contact Senator Brubaker. Chained woman protests canine tethers in Harrisburg By Brad Bumstead HARRISBURG — Inside her right arm, she wears the words "Dog Warrior" tattooed beneath the likeness of a sword-wielding woman. Instead of a sword, Tamira Thayne's weapon of choice is a chain she wears around her neck. She is tethered to a dog box as she stands watch on the steps of the state Capitol. Her purpose is to call attention to the plight of dogs chained to boxes and urge lawmakers to approve Senate Bill 1435 in the 10 remaining legislative days before the 2009-10 session effectively ends in late October. Since her protest began Aug. 2, Thayne wears the chain like a crude necklace. She sits in the sun and occasional downpours hoping that Pennsylvania will become the 14th state to limit or ban dog tethering. The state House returns from summer recess Monday, and the Senate comes back Sept. 20. The bill Thayne pushes would ban tethering from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. and when the temperature exceeds 90 degrees or drops below freezing. Under the bill, any tether must be at least 6 feet long or five times the length of the dog, whichever is longer. The tether must be "a type commonly used for the size of the dog involved." Tow chains would be banned. The legislation would prevent the type of abuse inflicted on Stitch, a 20-pound spitz who was tethered with a 30-pound chain, Thayne said. Stitch is one of the dogs she is making available for adoption. Sen. Michael Brubaker, R-Lancaster, who chairs the Senate Agriculture Committee, where the bill resides, has questions about it. "I do not think tethering itself is harmful," said Brubaker. "It's all about the conditions." Brubaker said he will "do an informal polling of committee members" to gauge interest in a committee vote. "If a majority of members of the committee want me to move (the bill), I'll move it," the senator said. The bill's sponsor, Sen. Richard Alloway, R-Franklin County, said his intent is "not to hammer people over the head" with a law. The legislation establishes "reasonable, common-sense parameters," he said. Thayne, meanwhile, said she fasts during the week out of sympathy for underfed dogs tied to boxes, but she eats on weekends "so I don't starve to death." This week, she also decided not to speak in an effort to get others to speak out for dogs. She answered questions for this story by writing on a notepad or nodding yes or no. Her friend, Stacey Romberger, helped convey answers. Thayne worked as a graphics designer before founding a group called Dogs Deserve Better. "A big part of my purpose here is to inspire you all to take action on behalf of chained dogs," she wrote on her blog. "So please, please contact your representatives and contact them again; don't stop." Dog advocate will pack up doghouse, Published: Thursday, October 14, 2010, 11:22 AM Tamira Thayne has braved sweltering heat, soaking rain and being blatantly ignored, all in her quest to compel lawmakers to act on legislation to limit how long a dog can be chained outside. After 52 days of sitting on the state Capitol steps chained to a wooden doghouse plastered with posters, Thayne is going home to Blair County tonight for good. Standing in the pouring rain on the Capitol steps this morning with no umbrella, Thayne announced the end to her demonstration, which she maintained weekdays from about 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. since Aug. 3. Thayne, the head of Operation Fido's Freedom, a campaign by the advocacy organization Dogs Deserve Better, vowed to continue fighting for the cause when lawmakers begin a new session in January. During her more than two-month post, the legislation to ban chaining dogs overnight did not move from the state Senate committee where it has sat since July. "I apologize to the chained dogs of Pennsylvania on behalf of the state Legislature, for they have once again ignored your plight despite the fact that I gave it my very all," Thayne said. "It is ridiculous that the state of Pennsylvania cannot provide some basic protections from the cruel practice of tethering." Thayne said that while she's been chained up at the Capitol, newspapers have reported three attacks on children by chained dogs who had not been properly socialized. Articles and Blogs in Date Order from Last to First. If you know of an article or blog that is not featured here, please send a link to dogs@dogsdeservebetter.org. Oct 29, 2010: The American Dog Magazine: An Amazing Advocate for Dogs Oct 29, 2010: Doghouse days Oct 26, 2010: After 52-day Capitol protest, activist vows to fight on for anti-chaining law Oct 20, 2010: Believing in a Cause & Walking the Walk Oct 14, 2010: Dog advocate will pack up doghouse, chains from Capitol steps tonight Oct 12, 2010: Life on the End of Chain Oct 11, 2010: Animal Cruelty Documentary Oct 6, 2010: Rain, wind and chilly temps don't deter anti-dog chaining protester Oct 4, 2010: Operation Fido's Freedom Sept 24, 2010: Woman chains self to dog house at Capitol building Sept 24, 2010: Tamira Thayne Chains Herself to a Doghouse Sept 18, 2010: Brad Koplinski__tethering dogs between 10pm & 6am 9/16/2010 - Roxbury News Sept 14, 2010: Thayne to Legislators: I'm here for the dogs! Sept 14, 2010: It's Time to Support Bill to Aid Tethered Dogs Sept 14, 2010: Woman Chains Herself to a Doghouse at Pennsylvania Capitol Sept 13, 2010: Will PA Pups Ever Get a Break? Sept 9, 2010: Chained woman protests canine tethers in Harrisburg Sept 7, 2010: Woman Chained to Doghouse at State Capitol Begins Fast and Silent Vigil Sept 6, 2010: Leaving Our Mark: Vigil for Law for Chained Dogs Reaches 250 Hours Sept 6, 2010: Woman Undertakes 4-Day Silent Fast, Chained to Doghouse Sept 3, 2010: She's Still There.... Sept 3, 2010: Woman demonstrates at Pennsylvania's Capitol against tethering dogs Aug 31, 2010: Video of Thayne by Penn Live Aug 30, 2010: Woman Undertakes 4-Day Silent Fast While Chained to Doghouse on Harrisburg Capitol Steps Aug 30, 2010: Woman Chains Herself to Dog House in Protest Aug 28, 2010: Pack Mentality Blog: Woman offers a lone protest at the Pennsylvania state capital, chained to a doghouse Aug 27, 2010: Dog chaining causes mental abuse to people who are forced to watch it! Aug 27, 2010: Woman Chains Herself To Capitol Steps Aug 26, 2010: Unchain the dogs: The Tampa Bay tethering debate Aug 26, 2010: Letter reaches activist at Capitol dog house Aug 25, 2010: Mail Addressed To Aug 23, 2010: Doggies and Stuff Blog Aug 20, 2010: Dogs Deserve Better Founder Chains Herself at Capitol Steps Aug 20, 2010: A lonely vigil at the Capitol Aug 5, 2010: WITF (State House Sound Bites)
Aug 4, 2010: Activist chains herself at Capitol to Aug 4, 2010: Dogs Deserve Better Founder Chains Aug 3, 2010: Woman Chains Herself to Dog House on Pennsylvania Capitol Steps Aug 3, 2010: Advocate chains herself to a dog house at Find your Senator and House Rep at: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/ 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? If you have an efficiency apartment in Harrisburg, PA you could lend for DDB's use during this campaign, please contact us at 814.941.7447.
Dogs Deserve Better is a 501c3 nonprofit organization.
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Important Links
Find your Senator
or House Rep, and tell him/her "I'm here for their law"
UnchainPADogs.com
website for more info and
to join the Coalition
Download the Legislation
History flyer for Pennsylvania's
chaining legislation in .pdf
Download Tamira Ci Thayne's
Open Letter to the PA State Senators and House Reps
Can you donate for this
life-saving campaign?
Books by Tamira Thayne
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Deserve Better, Inc. • P.O.
Box 23 • Tipton, PA 16684
• Toll Free 1.877.636.1408 • 814.941.7447 |
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