Christmas has gone to the dogs
by Levi Hill, News-Sun, New Mexico

‘I never saw that dog off the chain, and I never saw the owner have any
kind of interaction with it. ... I always thought, what if that dog had been
given a chance to be a pet and not just a possession.’
Amanda Green, Representative of Dogs Deserve Better

Dogs across Hobbs got a helping hand and a holiday gift this week thanks to the help of Amanda Green and Justin Dreyer, local representatives of Dogs Deserve Better, an international non-profit dedicated to improving dogs’ lives.

The pair walked the streets and alleys of Hobbs this week looking for dogs kept on chains and talking with dog owners, spreading awareness about the harms of chaining a dog and giving the owners a chew toy and treats for their pets.

“We try to educate people that chaining a dog is bad,” said Dreyer. “As we socialize dogs we have to take responsibility for them. A big part of it is education.”

“We thought it was a way we could approach people this time of year and try to educate them,” Green said. “It is also a way to help the dogs.”

Green said it is estimated that 6 million dogs in the United states live chained and she has seen first-hand the harm that chaining a dog can have. While working for a veterinarian in Arkansas, Green saw the effects on a dog that lived chained at a home near the clinic. How long the dog had been in that condition Green didn’t know, but one day it disappeared. Green later learned it had killed a small child that had come into the yard.

“I never saw that dog off the chain, and I never saw the owner have any kind of interaction with it,” she said.“The newspapers portrayed it as the dog just snapped. They never once blamed the owner. I always thought, what if that dog had been given a chance to be a pet and not just a possession?”

The pair’s holiday gift-giving was made possible thanks to funds raised by PetSense and its Santa Paws photo fundraiser. The store raised $250 for the non-profit, and Green used half the funding to buy chew toys and treats for the dogs.

Green said the reaction from dog owners has been positive.

“Everybody seemed thankful,” she said. “We have had comments that they didn’t know there were people in Hobbs who cared about dogs. If seeing that someone else
cares about their dog gets them to spend more time than they normally would with their pet, that is our goal. At some point they loved their dog, otherwise they wouldn’t
have gotten them. We try to find out why they locked the dog outside.”

Green said the non-profit can offer resources on crate training, obedience training and spay and neutering for pet owners to help them bring the dog back into the family.

“Also if someone has a dog on a chain and they don’t want to take care of it, we offer to rescue the dog,” Green said.

The rest of the money is being used to cover vet bills for the dogs the group rescues. Green said rescue dogs are often kept by foster families until permanent homes are
found. Green is currently trying to find a home for Petey, a year-old pitbull whose owner is dying of cancer.

I want to help DDB with financial support.