"We Rescue Their Lives-They Rescue Our Hearts"
Dogs Who Spur Change
Dogs Deserve Better
E-News 10/06/08
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Dear Tammy,
 It
happened for Tamira Ci Thayne when she found herself chanting the words
"dogs deserve better" each time she passed an old chained dog called "Worthless" on her way to and from her home each day. For
Shelby Townsend, it was a dog named Rhudy who came to her door still
lugging his chain. For me, it was Frog, a chained black lab mix who
stood with his toy in his mouth watching the neighbor's play with their
Lab in an adjacent yard with the exact same toy. The list is
long, but each and every one of us has been so touched by a chained dog
in need that we have given up our luxuries, our freedoms for theirs.
Our once peaceful homes became halfway houses for wayward animals. Six
years ago Tami started the non-profit organization " Dogs Deserve Better"
Shelby Townsend began campaigning for law changes in Cumberland
County and I left my job at the Mayor's office to dedicate my life full
time saving backyard dogs.
It doesn't matter where you live,
what line of work you are in, your age, nationality, gender; man's best
friend does not discriminate when it comes to love.
In this issue we will discuss some of the changes people have made for the dogs in their communities, and how YOU can be one of the people who can change the lives of backyard dogs. |
 Chain-ge We Can Count On
Help
Dogs Deserve Better through Election Day by taking all your spare
change, tossing it in a jar, and saving it up through November 4th. On
Election Day when you go out to vote for the Candidate you believe will
bring the most Change, stop by your bank or grocery, change that change
into dollar bills, and send it along to Dogs Deserve Better at P.O. Box
23, Tipton, PA, 16684.
This money will be used for vetting
dogs, building fences, and printing educational materials in
preparation for the winter onslaught of dogs who are suffering and need
our help. Make sure you let us know it's for our Chain-ge We Can Count On Campaign.
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An Interview with Shelby Townsend
 Cumberland
County, NC - Shelby Townsend has an anti-tethering ordinance before the
Cumberland County Board of Directors. She has met with County
Officials, spoken at county meetings and researched chained dogs. She's
spoken to Animal Control Directors in counties where the ordinances are
working and has kept her findings in notebooks for every county. Shelby
says, "I'm prepared to answer any questions they may ask." Shelby
remarks that she gained much knowledge from Dogs Deserve Better.
Townsend
began advocating for chained dogs when Rhudy, a Chocolate Lab found his
way to her doorstep. She reached out to him and pulled back bloody
hands. The blood was from his chain that was embedded into his neck.
Poor Rhudy was starved and injured, but he went to the right place and
he's still there now weighing in at 80 lbs!
Townsend
told a local reporter, " I want to see an enforceable ordinance that
stops the cruel practice of tying dogs, often for their entire lives.
They never go for a walk, never chase a ball, never sit on the couch
with the family, and they often become aggressive because of the
frustration and boredom. I know this effort has failed in the past, but
we must not give up. It's time for a change."
Thank you Shelby and friends for working for chained dogs in your community!
DDB
would love to hear your story regarding changing tethering laws in your
area. Please submit articles, pictures and information to dawn@dogsdeservebetter.org
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 From the Mailbag
Dear Dogs Deserve Better Team,
I wanted to share our exciting news with you- Georgetown, TX is now chain free!
The ordinance to outlaw dog chaining was approved by
our City Council last night. Your web site was a tremendous help to me
as I led our Animal Shelter Advisory Board through the task of getting
this ordinance passed.
The ordinance will go into effect on
December 24, 2008 - what a wonderful Christmas gift for our dogs! I am
leading the efforts to start fundraising immediately to raise money for
families that can not afford fences.
Thank you again for all you do, and for providing such helpful information!
Best Regards,
Christy Hullum
Animal Shelter Advisory Board Vice-Chair
Georgetown, Texas
Read More!
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| Chain-ging Laws
 Looking for communities where tethering laws are in effect?
Durham County
NC Commissioners passed a tethering ordinance by a 4-1. Several
amendments to a local ordinance that outlaws the unattended tethering
of dogs will be effective Jan. 1, 2010.
Other recent legislation has been passed in Fayette County, GA, Orange county, NC and Frederick county, MD.
A
three-hour tethering limit went into effect Sept 1, 2006 for Marion,
Indiana, however, the ordinance may be facing revisal and they may be
adding "cannot be tethered unless supervised" language to make it even
more enforceable.
Middletown and New Richmond, Ohio also passed anti-tethering laws.
Carbondale, Illinois home of the SIU Salukis is working on passing a tethering ordinance.
With the passing of Miami, Florida tethering laws, Miami-Dade County is still working on laws for their county. Contact Protect Children & Dogs in Miami-Dade for more information on how you can help Miami-Dade County pass an anti-tethering ordinance.
Ashland, Oregon's Ambuja Rosen
is asking for volunteers to help the Break The Chain Campaign in
Ashland; building fences and breaking chains. Thank you to everyone who
is working on changing laws against the 24/7 chaining of the backyard
dog.
A big thank you to lawmakers who are making the world a
more pet friendly place to live! Do you have more information on
tethering laws in your community? Please email dawn@dogsdeservebetter.org
Read more chaining law articles and see who has laws.
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Shepp's Tragic Story - Goddess of Animal Rights Music - Song for Shepp
"Chained to You"
Maria Daines,
who is becoming known as the Goddess of Animal Rights Music, has
written an incredibly moving song for Shepp, and is generously
allowing DDB to keep any money raised from downloads. The song is
now up, please listen and download at: http://indiestore.7digital.com/dogsdeservebetter Daine's
says, "We decided to write this song to help people understand the need
for greater awareness and protection for chained dogs."
9/22/08.
After being dumped off at an abandoned home in Corpus Christi, TX, a
German Shepherd was found in horrific conditions last week
on 9/16/08. Parts of his bones were exposed due to constant
friction from trying to move.
Laying
on the concrete, unable to even get up from his side and with
what appeared to be a wound on his neck, was a dog laying under a
carport. Barely within reach was an overturned bucket with some dry
food. Read More
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DDB Begins Collecting Items for Ebay Auction
Just a reminder....help Dogs Deserve Better by donating items for our Ebay auction!
Send your items to Dogs Deserve Better, PO Box 23, Tipton, PA 16684 We
can send a donation receipt if requested along with the value of the
item and your return address. Thank you so much for your
donations!
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Get Political For Animals and Win the Laws They Need
 Why
and How to Launch a Voting Bloc for Animals in Your Town, City, County
or State. Early readers call it a masterpiece that all rights and
rescue advocates must read, and that it changed the form of their
advocacy. Get your copy here.
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 Puddles On The Floor
by Lorena Estep, Illustrated by DDB Founder Tamira Ci Thayne
Testimonial from Pauline Larsen, Columnist, Humane Education, DDB Rep:
I just received Puddles On The Floor,
and have read it three times. I am convinced that we need to get copies
of this book in as many elementary school libraries as possible. What
an awesome educational tool this is!! I will be sending a donation to
get multiple copies to distribute to schools, and hope my action will
encourage others to do the same. Education is the key to improving the
plight of needy dogs, and this book can change attitudes.I AM
IMPRESSED, and I encourage YOU to order multiple copies to distribute
in your area!"
Order your Puddle Books and Puddle Paks Today!
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Our movement is growing, expanding, making HUGE strides, thanks to your help. Please stick with us, we really CAN change the world for chained and penned dogs.
Sincerely,
Dawn Ashby, Rescue & Public Liaison dawn@dogsdeservebetter.org
1.877.636.1408 · http://www.dogsdeservebetter.org
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