Building Fences to Help Chained Dogs

File this one under Smart Ideas That Directly Help Animals. A friend sent me a link recently to a North Carolina organization called Coalition to Unchain Dogs. I'd heard about programs such as this before--programs that, without charge to the dogs' caretakers, build fences for dogs who are living a chained-up life--but they kept slipping off my radar until the friend mentioned this specific nonprofit. Here's a quick overview of what the group of volunteers does:

In just over two years, we have freed over 200 dogs from their chains, but many more are still waiting. Our three-tiered mission:

1. Raise money and build fences for chained dogs in the community
2. Provide support to and educate the community as to why chaining is cruel and dangerous and raise awareness of the physical, mental and emotional needs of dogs
3. Advocate for the passing of laws that disallow or severely restrict the chaining of dogs

Each dog must be spayed/neutered and vaccinated before receiving a fence. Most dogs receive these services through Independent Animal Rescue (IAR) and its Community Spay/Neuter Program. The Coalition is grateful to IAR for its longstanding partnership and support.

If you want to see the results, the group's site also has dozens of heartwarming videos introducing the dogs helped, documenting the transformation of the dogs' spaces, and showing the dogs ultimately running happily, free from their chains. But North Carolinians aren't the only ones working hard to free chained dogs. All the way on the other side of the country, for example, is the Oregon nonprofit Fences for Fido: "Our mission is to improve the quality of life for dogs living outdoors by removing chains, building fences, providing shelters, offering spay/neuter, and raising awareness about the physical, mental and emotional needs of dogs and why chaining a dog is inhumane and dangerous." See some of their success stories here.

I have a personal soft spot for these campaigns because both the dogs now living with me were once tied up (and neglected) in the backyards of their original so-called caregivers too. It's not a happy or healthy life for a dog--or for any animal, for that matter. It's lonely. It's boring. It can create aggression in some circumstances. And when the chains or tethers are short, it also forces the animals to defecate in the same place they have to spend the majority of their time. In short, it's miserable.

Still, in some cases, I can't help but find the endings, after the fence has gone up, bittersweet. Don't get me wrong--I have nothing but admiration for these programs, and the positive change for dogs is significant; being off the chain and free to run and play is worlds better than being tied up. But despite these advocates' best educational efforts, it's true that for many dogs who were already being kept outside day and night, "off the chain"--rather than in the home--is as good as it's going to get. And especially for only-dogs who don't have a companion, that's still such a sad, lonely way to live. Dogs are social pack animals, and they crave and need companionship. So please remember that if you know a dog who's living outside alone all the time, even loose in a fenced yard, he's still not living the happy life he deserves either; encouraging our friends, family, and neighbors to bring dogs inside is something we must do as well. (See also the tips on helping or even rescuing chained dogs from Dogs Deserve Better.)

If you happen to live in the Durham, NC, area, you have a chance to support the Coalition to Unchain Dogs this very weekend, at its Music for Fences benefit concert on Saturday. And if you know of organizations or even loosely affiliated groups of people doing similar work for chained and tethered dogs in your own communities, please feel free to name and link to them in the comments.