Dogs should not be kept out side in all kinds of weather! Please support this new legislation!

[Gladys]

There is a dog in the property behind me who is kept out in all kinds of weather all night long from freezing rain to extreme heat. He has a dog house but just wines and barks sometimes all night. dogs are not designed to be out side in severe weather.

And there are dogs who are chained for their entire lives to one spot. This is cruel. lease read this and support the proposed legislation.


UNCHAIN PA DOGS

Kathleen Slagle has been a Dogs Deserve Better area representative of Delaware Water Gap in Pennsylvania for 5 years. As an area representative Slagle has been instrumental in recruiting volunteers, re-homing dogs and educating people on chained dogs. In 2009, she started the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Tethering, a group dedicated to educating the public and promoting legislation to end the widely tolerated practice of chaining dogs for life. Slagle has been the instrumental behind anti-tethering legislation since the 2005-2006 Legislation Session (HB 1911, HB 1065, HB 1254), the creation of unchainpadogs.com and the current anti-tethering legislation.

[Sycamore]

As an animal lover and wife of a fence contractor, I fully support this legislation.

[desolate]

Outside, yes, they are animals and can deal given proper water and cover. Heat yes but cold they should be brought it.

Tethering is just effed up. Build a cage if you want to contain an animal.

Or don't have an animal unless you have the room to have one.

[guzzijason]

Outside, yes, they are animals and can deal given proper water and cover. Heat yes but cold they should be brought it.

Tethering is just effed up. Build a cage if you want to contain an animal.

Or don't have an animal unless you have the room to have one.

I guess it depends on the type of dog. Some are quite content in the cold.



__Jason

[toxigal]

i simply dont' understand why people would get a pet if they intend to keep it outside all the time.

[Sycamore]

Lots of Pennsylvanians think of dogs as working/farm animals.

[toxigal]

Lots of Pennsylvanians think of dogs as working/farm animals.

that is true. but not sure that explanation flies in philly

[phillysw]

Legally, dogs only need access to food, water, and "shelter." It doesn't matter if the dog is chained 24 hours a day, 52 weeks a year to a "shelter" consisting of a piece of plywood on cinder blocks.

And yet, PA State Reps such as (former) Republican Beverly Mackereth believe that an additional law preventing owners from tethering dogs for long periods of time (like overnight) would be too restrictive for owners. Back in 2007 when HB 1065 was on the table, I emailed her about some dogs who had been chained outside in a nearby yard for years, despite numerous calls to the PSPCA to report neglect. She helpfully emailed back with a copy of the current anti-cruelty statute, saying she believed the owner "should have been charged."

Four months later, I emailed Rep. Mackereth again during a December cold snap. I included my email correspondence with a PSPCA humane officer, indicating they were aware of the property but unable to act as the owner was within the law. I told her the dogs were still out there, chained to dog houses in all types of weather. She never responded.

Fully three years later, there are STILL dogs chained outside in this property 24/7, year-round. They were there during the snowstorms last year (screaming and barking, inviting more complaints to PSPCA), and they have been through all 8 heat waves with nothing more than little plastic houses. The law does not go far enough to protect dogs, period.

Are people like Mackereth ignorant, just downright cruel, or do they fear backlash from Pennsyltucky puppy mill owners? Who knows, but I cannot fathom why someone would oppose a law like this. It disgusts me.

[Sycamore]

That's exactly it. Pennsylvania has lots of puppy mills and they lobby. ****in' Amish.

[ColeenH]

Outside, yes, they are animals and can deal given proper water and cover. Heat yes but cold they should be brought it.

Tethering is just effed up. Build a cage if you want to contain an animal.

Or don't have an animal unless you have the room to have one.

Brachycephalic dogs (dogs with short snouts, like pugs, Boston terriers, bulldogs, etc.) would die if left outside during the heat waves we've had this summer. Hell, during some of these heat waves, ANY kind of dog could die.

Dogs don't sweat the way humans do. They pant. As a species, they aren't very efficient at cooling themselves off, and brachycephalic dogs have it even worse.

I completely agree with the proposed legislation. Research by the National Canine Research Council has proved a link between dogs that are tethered 24/7 and dog bites (additional correlations with intact dogs, non- or under-socialized dogs, and lack of training).

Like a previous poster, I don't understand why people get pets to simply keep them outdoors 24/7. Get a stone statue of a dog instead. It's cheaper to maintain.

[Gladys]

Legally, dogs only need access to food, water, and "shelter." It doesn't matter if the dog is chained 24 hours a day, 52 weeks a year to a "shelter" consisting of a piece of plywood on cinder blocks.

And yet, PA State Reps such as (former) Republican Beverly Mackereth believe that an additional law preventing owners from tethering dogs for long periods of time (like overnight) would be too restrictive for owners. Back in 2007 when HB 1065 was on the table, I emailed her about some dogs who had been chained outside in a nearby yard for years, despite numerous calls to the PSPCA to report neglect. She helpfully emailed back with a copy of the current anti-cruelty statute, saying she believed the owner "should have been charged."

Four months later, I emailed Rep. Mackereth again during a December cold snap. I included my email correspondence with a PSPCA humane officer, indicating they were aware of the property but unable to act as the owner was within the law. I told her the dogs were still out there, chained to dog houses in all types of weather. She never responded.

Fully three years later, there are STILL dogs chained outside in this property 24/7, year-round. They were there during the snowstorms last year (screaming and barking, inviting more complaints to PSPCA), and they have been through all 8 heat waves with nothing more than little plastic houses. The law does not go far enough to protect dogs, period.

Are people like Mackereth ignorant, just downright cruel, or do they fear backlash from Pennsyltucky puppy mill owners? Who knows, but I cannot fathom why someone would oppose a law like this. It disgusts me.

That's HORRENDOUS!!!! I reported one once and they officer did come out the poor thing is out just at night now.. and whines... and whines... i go out and talk to him, can't see him. and he calms down.... how can they LEAVE A DOG OUT IN A BLIZZARD AND THE HEAT WAVE!!! What's the point of having one?

[Gladys]

Brachycephalic dogs (dogs with short snouts, like pugs, Boston terriers, bulldogs, etc.) would die if left outside during the heat waves we've had this summer. Hell, during some of these heat waves, ANY kind of dog could die.

Dogs don't sweat the way humans do. They pant. As a species, they aren't very efficient at cooling themselves off, and brachycephalic dogs have it even worse.

I completely agree with the proposed legislation. Research by the National Canine Research Council has proved a link between dogs that are tethered 24/7 and dog bites (additional correlations with intact dogs, non- or under-socialized dogs, and lack of training).

Like a previous poster, I don't understand why people get pets to simply keep them outdoors 24/7. Get a stone statue of a dog instead. It's cheaper to maintain.

Absolutely dogs do not do well in heat and extreme cold - even sled dogs have work shoes put on their feet!

I AGREE WITH THE LEGISLATION - IF YOU DO VOTE AND CONTACT YOUR LOCAL PEOPLE!

This has got to stop.

[Gladys]

Well its time for us to lobby too! Personally i'd like to see 40 dog houses on the capitol steps with volunteers chained to them... that's a statement.

Of course a dog chained up all the time will bite - you are invading HIS territory!