February is Unchain A Dog Month. There are many dogs that live their lives tied outside on chains. For some, that is how the family has always cared for its dogs for many generations. Perhaps they don’t know that there is another way to include the dog in family life. Or, maybe dogs have always been outside dogs, but it’s now not safe to let dogs run loose with so much vehicle traffic. Without a fenced yard, the only outdoor alternative then seems to be chaining the dog to a dog house or a tree. Perhaps at one time, the family tried to bring the dog inside, but the dog didn’t behave very well and it was easier to keep it tied outside.
If you know of a dog (perhaps it’s your own) that lives life on a chain, please share my blog posts with its human family. My blog posts this month will educate us all about why life on a chain is not the best life for a dog. I will offer some suggestions and a protocol for how anyone can begin to bring their dog inside off the chain. And, if living inside is not an option for a particular dog, I will offer some suggestions to unchain that outdoor dog and make its life better.
If any reader has questions about how to bring your dog inside off the chain, please do contact me through my comments section below each post. The posts are not public and will be seen only by me. If you would like a personal response, you must leave me a personal email address in your comment, and I will get back to you and try to put you in touch with resources and information to help you bring your dog in off the chain. I cannot offer you personal suggestions through the comment thread – you must include a personal email address in your comment.
If you know of someone who has a dog tied up on a chain, please do not judge that person. You don’t know why the dog is tied there. There may be circumstances that you aren’t aware of. You can offer your assistance in a non-judgmental way. You can forward along my blog posts. There are resources that can help.
