Dogs
Are Snowmegeddon's Forgotten Victims
Snowmegeddon, a
nickname given to the recent blast of snow storms hitting the east
coast, has it's share of human victims, but the weather's forgotten
victims suffer silent and often deadly fates: America's chained and
penned dogs. Unable to escape their tether or pen to find appropriate
shelter as they would do in the wild, they await the mercy of humans,
humans for whom mercy is not high on the list of priorities.
Overwhelmed with
anywhere from 20-35 inches of snow, the region's residents dig out their
cars, their homes, and their driveways, but repeatedly leave their
chained dogs to fend for themselves. Doghouses become buried in the
snow, not even visible as the lawn ornaments they once were.
"Anyone who leaves
his/her dog chained or penned out in the severe winter weather with two
feet of snow, below zero wind chills, and temperatures in the single
digits should be convicted without question of animal cruelty," says
Tamira Ci Thayne, founder and CEO of Dogs Deserve Better, a nonprofit
working to bring dogs into the home and family.
The nonprofit gets
hundreds of heartbreaking e-mails during periods of inclement weather.
Emails such as this one from Virginia: "Last month they didn't dig the
dog out from his house for three days, no food either. When I returned
to the property today there were no tracks in the yard. The dog had
wrapped himself around another stilt causing him to have no room to
move, get to food, nothing. Another neighbor came and dug out the
doghouse."
Or this report, from
West Virginia: "Rotties are tied up behind a house with no food or water
for four days now. I sent animal control and when they knocked on the
door, a 75-year-old lady in a walker answered and said she can't get out
back to take care of them. Apparently her family stops by once in a
while to give them some food or water. But with the snow they haven't
been there in some time."
This scenario repeats
itself in towns all across our nation, as dogs await better laws which
will protect them from both the cruelties of man and freezing
temperatures. As winter storms ravage the country, bringing below-zero
wind chills and arctic temperatures in many areas, dogs hold on as best
they can. Those that freeze to death are rarely reported, quickly
disposed of by owners looking to avoid legal consequences for their
failure to properly care for their pets.
Dogs Deserve Better,
needs your help to stop the suffering of these dogs in the cold during
this horrible winter. Donate today.
California
Students Make Valentines for Chained Dogs
February 9th, DDB
Inland Empire Area Rep, Deana Whitfield, was invited by Davidson
Elementary School in San Bernardino, CA along with the Humane Society of
San Bernardino Valley to accept valentine's made for chained dogs by
the students of CAPS after school program.
Humane Education
Officers from the Humane Society did a presentation to the students.
After their presentation, Deana spoke to the students regarding Dogs
Deserve Better. I explained our mission, shared photo's, statistics, CA
law regarding tethering, and did a question and answer session with the
kids. The student's were very enthusiastic about DDB and had many
questions for me. I was then presented all the valentine's all the
students had made.
After being presented
with the valentines, the students made a long multi-colored paper
"chain" to symbolize the large chains used to tether dogs in our area.
The students then created a large circle around the cafeteria, held up
the "chain" and in unison yelled " DOGS DESERVE BETTER, BREAK THAT
CHAIN" and ripped apart the links.
Deana beamed "It's was
so fun to see the students be so enthusiastic about the Humane Education
Program brought to their school!"
Read more...
Dog Advocate Charged with Trespassing
At 1492 Dulancey Drive
in Lilly, Pennsylvania, Tamira Thayne, DDB Founder and CEO, spotted two
skinny dogs with inadequate shelter, minimal straw, no food, and no
water. She knocked on the door, and when no one answered she left a Dogs
Deserve Better calendar and stuffed the doghouses with straw to save
the dogs from immediate danger of death by freezing. She gave the dogs
each a bone, food, and water. They shivered nonstop while they ate in
the -11 degree wind chill.
Current Pennsylvania
law dictates that dogs must have access to"sustenance, drink, and
sanitary shelter which will protect the animal against inclement weather
and preserve the animal's body heat and keep it dry." Thayne knew the
law was being broken, so she returned three days later to speak to the
caretaker on behalf of the dogs.
Again, no one answered
the door....Read More...
See the video...
Help DDB Win $10,000!
Visit the Animal Rescue
Site Shelter Challenge website everyday to vote for DDB. Remember to
choose the Altoona, PA office of DDB so that all the votes go to the
same location. Helping us win is easy... click on the picture above to
start.
Happy Dog
Coloring Book-- Still Time To Sponsor!
Illustrated
by our very own Minnesota Area Rep Tim Treybal, the 32-page coloring
book will be chock full of though-provoking images for children to
color, ranging from an initial image of a lonely dog on a chain to
illustrations of all the activities children can do with their dogs.
Our goal is to provide
this coloring book free to schools that can't afford to pay, low-cost to
those that can, and enable citizens to sponsor the costs of providing
books to classrooms throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Can you
help cover printing expenses and get your name listed as sponsor? ONLY
$15 for the basic sponsorship!
Click here to sponsor!
Welcome
Waggin' Thanks Donors
As reported in the last
issue of ENews, DDB is implementing a new program to provide new foster
dogs with toys, bowls, beds, and leashes/collars. We have had a
tremendous response to this program from the corporate world. This week
we thank Flexi USA, Petstages, Nylabone, Premier Pet Products, and
Kyjgen Pet Products. New fosters coming into DDB starting March 1 will
receive at least a leash, collar, and toy as a result of these generous
donations. You can help keep this program going. Order Kuranda dog beds
through our website. Also, if you order $100 or more
from Premier Pet Products, mention DDB and DDB gets a $50 credit.
From the
Mailbag
 Bones Before
Hi Alicia,
Just wanted to share a
couple pics of Bones with you from today... we got about 2 feet of snow
last night- and while at first he had some reservations, the pics show
how he 'warmed up' to it quickly :-P We laughed and laughed because he
looked like a deer, galloping through it and diving into it! He played
with our french bulldogs for a while, until we made them all come inside
because they were shivering... they would have kept going though :-P
He is just doing great
with us... he is so friendly and affectionate, everyone who meets him
just falls in love. He cuddles up with us on the couch to watch TV and
LOVES to play with our frenchies... Our little black one, Baxter, is his
little buddy... they play ball together constantly. Thank you so much
for giving us the chance to foster him, he's such a wonderful guy :)
Juliet Parrish
 Bones
After
**********************
I just want to say "thanks" to you and Dogs
Deserve Better for giving me an outlet for my passion....dogs.
I placed a dog last night in his forever
home and it is so rewarding to to be a part of his rescue, foster and
adoption.
Tim,
Dogs Deserve Better MN Rep
Make A Difference for A Chained Dog!
Chapel Hill's Tethering
Law to take effect this year
Later this year, Chapel Hill residents will
no longer be able to tether (or tie out) their dogs with any type of
chain or runner.
The Town of Chapel Hill's tethering rules
become effective on March 23, one year after being enacted by the Town
Council. Warnings will be given for dog owners not in compliance for a
three month period beginning on March 24. When the law becomes fully
enforceable on June 23, Chapel Hill residents will become subject to
fines or even criminal charges.
Tethering
refers to the keeping of dogs on chains, ropes or other such tie-outs
versus within a fenced structure. It is often defined in reference to a
stationary object (for example, a dog chained to a stake near a dog
house), but also includes overhead trolley systems.
Tethering
does not refer to walking a dog on a leash.
The new anti-tethering ordinance was
enacted to protect the dogs and residents of Chapel Hill. Dogs left tied
out can be at risk of accidental choking or injuries from being
entangled. Long-term tethering can and does contribute to neglect.
Tethering restrictions also address other concerns such as dog bites,
public safety, public nuisances such as habitual barking, unwanted
breeding and pet overpopulation.
Dog owners
who must keep their dogs outside will be required to have a fence or
kennel. The minimum requirements for the fence are:
These
dimensions are for each dog. If an owner has two dogs, they will need
twice the square footage. Owners may also have an underground fence
system professionally installed.
There are no exceptions to the rules,
although tethering for a period not to exceed seven days is permitted
while actively engaged in the following:
-
Shepherding or herding livestock
-
Lawful dog activities such as hunting
training and hunting sporting events, field and obedience training,
field or water training, law enforcement training, veterinary treatment
and/or the pursuit of working or competing in these legal endeavors
-
Meeting the requirements of a camping or
recreational area.
When participating in exempt activities or
when a dog is on an attended leash, tethered dogs must be tethered in an
appropriate manner. Tethers must be made of rope, twine, cord, or
similar material with a swivel on one end or a chain that is at least 10
feet in length with swivels on both ends and which does not exceed 10
percent of the dog’s body weight. All collars or harnesses used for the
purpose of tethering a dog must be made of nylon or leather.
The Town
of Chapel Hill contracts with Orange County Animal Services to provide
animal control and related services in Chapel Hill. During the period of
written warnings for tethering infractions, the Chapel Hill Animal
Control Officer will continue to educate and work with the owners and
keepers of tethered dogs. Only after this three-month period will the
officer begin to fully enforce the ordinance in the event that an owner
does not come into compliance. The intent is for all enforcement
personnel to continue to work with the community to make a successful
transition.
For more information on this law, click here.
****************
Anti chaining law passes in Chattanooga.
****************
West Virginia Residents:
Unchain
Morgan County is working on
getting an ordinance in Berkeley County Wv too. They are
planning a workshop on Sunday March 7th from 2-4 PM at the Martinsburg
Libary and would love to DDB supporters there.
****************
Goofus' Story-- A Chain Survivor
*************
In
Missouri, child attacked by chained dog. Dog shot by unknown person.
*************
Valentine's Campaign in the News!
Penn State Students Help DDB Get Out
Valentine's
Athen's County (Georgia) Humane Society
Participates in Valentine's Campaign
Valentines
in DC
*******************
More on Thayne's Arrest for Tresspassing
Upcoming Events
Be sure to check out USAToday on February 24th for an article
about Dogs Deserve Better. Special thanks to Sharon Peters, USAToday
Reporter, for featuring Dogs Deserve Better.
**********************
Come hear DDB founder,
Tamira Thayne, speak and visit the DDB table at the Virginia Federation
of Humane Societies Conference March 26 and 27 in Virginia Beach, VA.
For more information, go to www.vfhs.org.
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