Winter is here, and it is shockingly cold this year. But while we can put on coats or snuggle up against the fire, many of our four-legged friends cannot. All around the country irresponsible dog owners leave their pets chained or penned to brave the cold and rain for days or even months at a time. These dogs not only suffer through harsh climates but can also get territorial  and aggressive and pose a great risk to anyone who happens to come across one. Perpetual chaining and penning are both cruel and dangerous, and I want it to stop. Join me and ask Missouri lawmakers to make perpetual chaining and penning illegal.

Hi, my name is Mary Aten-Isaac and I am the founder of Angels with Tails Animal Sanctuary in Rocky Mount, Mo. I have seen first hand the suffering of neglected and chained dogs. I started my animal sanctuary with the purpose of assisting these animals. Yet, my sanctuary can only do so much, and so I am asking for all animal lovers to do their part and help fight against this dangerous practice.

These can often be life or death situations for both people and animals. According to Dogs Deserve Better, in the period from October 2003 through July 2014, there were at least 392 children killed or seriously injured by chained dogs across the country.  These so-called backyard or outside dogs are treated as lawn ornaments. Many of them lack fresh water, a clean living space and even the most basic veterinary care.  Every winter such dogs are found frozen to death. At other times of the year, they are left to starve to death.  

There is a way to stop this cruelty. There only needs to be the will to do so. Austria has passed a national ban on the practice. Here, states like California and Connecticut have put limits on it,  but Missouri along with several other states have yet to take any action.  I think its time that they did.

It’s time we break the chain of animal abuse. Tell Missouri to pass legislation banning perpetual dog chaining and penning.