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Chain Off 2009
Freedom for Chained Dogs the World Over

Las Cruces , New Mexico
July 12, 2009

Personal Account Coming Soon

Animal activists don chains to highlight the plight
of dogs (5:45 p.m.)

By Lauren E. Toney/For the Sun-News

link to article

LAS CRUCES — Animal activists chained themselves to a doghouse, some for as many as eight hours, on Sunday to raise awareness about the suffering endured by millions of dogs nationwide that are inhumanely chained, as well as the risk the practice poses to the community.

Supporters of the nonprofit Dogs Deserve Better brought the annual "Chain Off" protest, which has been held nationwide for more than five years, to Apodaca Park, where they fastened themselves to a wooden doghouse with 8-foot-long chains.

"Living chained for 24 hours, seven days a week, is grueling," said Michel Meunier, Las Cruces Dogs Deserve Better representative. "Our eight hours of discomfort will be nothing compared to the daily suffering of so many dogs who spend their entire lives at the end of a chain..."

Since bringing the Pennsylvania-based nonprofit to Las Cruces two months ago, Meunier said supporters have begun working with the Doña Ana County Animal Control Division to help pet owners create better conditions for their dogs.

While restraining dogs with rope, chain or other devices is permitted in Doña Ana County, the county requires that owners consider the safety of both dogs and humans alike.

According to a county ordinance, chains must be at least 12 feet long and affixed to the animal by use of a non-abrasive, comfortably-fitted collar or harness. Dogs must also have easy access to adequate shade, shelter, food and potable water

and should remain chained for no more than eight hours a day.

"There's a difference between resident dogs and family dogs," Meunier said. "Resident dogs aren't given the opportunity to bond with humans."

Keeping dogs chained for hours, or even days, can create a public safety issue.

"If you take away (a dog's) flight ability, they fight," Meunier said. "It's a risk to the community."

But even dogs who have been chained their entire lives "can be rehabilitated," she said.

Linda Jackson, of Las Cruces, donned a chain Sunday as T-Bone, a nearly one-year-old pit bull-boxer mix, roamed on a leash.

Jackson said she adopted T-Bone after the dog's mother, which had likely been chained most of its life, was abandoned, along with nine puppies.

"These chains can actually break a dog's neck if they run fast enough," she said. "It's almost like what you see on cartoons."

If a dog's collar isn't replaced as the dog matures, or the chain loosened, it can become embedded in the dog's skin, around its neck, Jackson added. "Eventually, it can damage the dog's larynx."

For this reason, Dogs Deserve Better advises owners to "train, instead of chain" their dogs, Meunier said.

The organization also helps pet owners build fences, allowing dogs to roam free on their owners' property.

Now in its seventh year nationwide, the annual "Chain Off" event is typically held close to the July 4th weekend. "While we're celebrating our independence, we're also pushing for the independence of dogs," she said.

Although activists mostly received "funny looks" from passersby on Sunday, Meunier said she hopes that by next year, there will be more interest and residents willing to participate in the protest. For more information on Dogs Deserve Better in Las Cruces, call Meunier at (575) 644-0505, or visit www.dogsdeservebetter.org.

Lauren Toney can be reached at ltoney@lcsun-news.com.