Make a Chained Dog Your Valentine

by Stephanie Feldstein · 2010-02-01 10:00:00 UTC
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Dogs Deserve Better hopes to make Valentine's Day a little sweeter for 15,000 chained or penned dogs this year.

The organization is teaming up with elementary school students, groups, and clubs across the country for the 8th season of Have a Heart for Chained Dogs Week. During the week of February 7-14, thousands of Valentines, brochures, and dog food or treat coupons will be delivered to dogs across the country.

Dogs are social pack animals, so being denied interaction with humans and other animals by living life on a chain can be psychologically damaging. Chained dogs are often forgotten by their families and physically neglected. Chaining also tends to cause injury and suffering from dehydration to hypothermia, from neck sores and embedded collars to entanglement and suffocation. Last, but not least, the combination of a lack of socialization with territorial behavior is a recipe for stress, anxiety, and aggression. Chained dogs have been responsible for hundreds of dog bites in the last few years alone.

The Have a Heart for Chained Dogs Campaign delivered 12,000 Valentines in 2009. Here's how you can share the love with even more dogs this year:

1. Make Valentines. Whether you're participating as an individual or part of a classroom or group, you can help provide meaningful cards. The Valentines need to be no bigger than 4" x 8.5" so they can be easily mailed. You can find examples and more information on the Dogs Deserve Better website.

2. Send Coupons. Ideally, every dog that gets a Valentine will also get a coupon for dog food or treats. Send any and all coupons you have (as long as they don't expire before Valentine's Day!)

3. Get addresses of Chained Dogs. DDB needs to know where to send the Valentines, so if there are any chained or penned dogs in your neighborhood, jot down the address and send it along. You can report dogs in need on their website, by emailing info@dogsdeservebetter.org, or by calling (877) 636-1408.

Valentines and Coupons must be sent by February 5th to:
Dogs Deserve Better
P.O. Box 23
Tipton, PA 16684

Photo credit: Tobyotter

Stephanie Feldstein is a Change.org Editor who has been part of the animal welfare and rescue community for over a decade, and most recently worked for an environmental organization.
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