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Off 2009 Covington, Kentucky Hello Everyone,
Quinn Epps of North Avondale came to help with the dog-washing. She said Iggy is a rescue dog that had been abandoned and chained in the backyard of a family that moved.
Also attending was Tiger, rescued from his chain in a junkyard. COVINGTON -- Marla Dakes was four months pregnant last year when she tethered herself by the neck to a doghouse for 24 hours, enduring torrential rains, wind and hail part of thetime, to raise awareness about the plight of chained and penned dogs. "A dog on a chain is so bored," Dakes said. "Believe me, from my experience doing thislast year, I thought I was going to die of boredom." The 10-hour event at Pioneer Park was part of the nationwide Chain Off 2009: Freedom forChained Dogs put on by Dogs Deserve Better. The Tipton, Pa.-based nonprofit advocates getting dogs off chains and into homes. Organizers of the local event, which included a dog-training seminar and dog washing,brought six doghouses and expected about 11 people to be chained to them on and off throughout the day. "Unlike chained dogs, we can get off and go potty or go socialize or go get something to eat," Independence resident Tammi Kinman-Ruppert said. "It's pretty crazy when you think of a life like that. It's like going to jail forever, and you never did anything wrong." "People think the opposite of chaining is letting them run free," Thayne said. "We certainly don't advocate letting your dog run free unless you have a big country farm. Otherwise, we definitely advocate fencing, bringing the dog into the house and walking it on a leash." Kinman-Ruppert cares for four dogs and said she has rescued at least a dozen off chains in the past year. While she intends to push for chain laws locally, and expects fierce opposition, Saturday's event focused on education and awareness. "If we can...build in just a little bit of empathy and compassion for what these dogs suffer their entire lives, then that's a victory," she said. Independence woman dedicates her life
Ruppert’s experience led her to a new role advocating for the freedom of chained dogs as the Cincinnati area representative for “Dogs Deserve Better”. The group raises awareness and money to rescue dogs from a life in chains and to educate pet owners about the cruelty and dangers of tethering a dog 24 hours a day. “It’s like them being put in jail for their entire lives and they never did anything wrong, “ says Ruppert. Ruppert says excessive chaining is still an acceptable form of abuse and neglect in the U.S. “Dogs Deserve Better” estimates some six million dogs spend most or all of their lives tethered. Current animal welfare laws in the Cincinnati area offer no punishment for owners who leave their dogs chained 24 hours a day, with no chance for exercise, play, or human interaction. “Dogs Deserve Better” says the issue is also one of public health and safety, because chained dogs are three times more likely to bite and become aggressive. A spin-off group, “Mothers Against Dog Chaining”, consists of women whose children have all been attacked, and in some cases killed, by chained dogs. California , Maryland and Nevada recently passed laws putting time limits on dog chaining, and several other states, including Pennsylvania and Texas, are considering similar legislation. Hundreds of cities and counties across the U.S. also have “anti-tethering” laws which prohibit the excessive chaining of dogs and regulate the amount of living space required for a pet. Ruppert says she believes the problem of dog chaining is generational. Pet owners think it is acceptable because they remember their parents and grandparents keeping their dogs chained all times, and they don’t realize the cruelty of the situation. “People don’t connect to the dog being a living, breathing, suffering thing”, says Ruppert. “Dogs Deserve Better” raises money through events like the “Northern Kentucky Chain-Off” in Pioneer Park this weekend (Saturday, June 27th). Group members will spend as much as 10 hours chained to doghouses to raise money and funds for their cause. There will also be free doggie washes, puppy training, a veterinarian, and other activities for attendees. Ruppert, who has four dogs of her own, says anyone who has concerns about a pet they see chained for excessive periods of time can contact their area representative for Dogs Deserve Better (there is a link at the bottom of this article). The group will approach the pet owner and offer help walking the dog, paying for and installing fencing, and training to help families integrate their pets into their lives. The following video will appear in IE but not Firefox.
If
you'd like to sponsor via regular USPS mail, send
this
sponsor form or you may call 1.877.636.1408 to use Visa/Mastercard/AmEx Dogs Deserve Better is a 501c3 nonprofit education/legislation/rescue organization. Your donations are tax-deductible according to IRS guidelines.
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Tammi Kinman Ruppert says a dog she passed on her way to work one day changed her life forever. The Independence woman took pity on the animal, which she noticed was chained, day in and day out. The thought of that dog getting no exercise, no freedom and likely no affection, caused her to lose sleep. “I just prayed, please, let me find a way to rescue it.” 
