A chained dog is a dog kept in solitary confinement, tethered away from the house for months, or even years.

Make life chaining become illegal in New Zealand for once and for all.

Condemning dogs to “solitary confinement” on a chain is so cruel. 

It’s one of the most common forms of neglect, and psychologically and physically destroys the lives of so many dogs.

They wear heavy, thick chains around their neck, and are often desperate for even just one moment of attention. Chained dogs are ‘out of sight, out of mind’ – banished to a life of loneliness like a lawn ornament that serves no purpose. Once loved, now unwanted. And yet it’s not against the law to chain your dog. 

**Minimum standard No. 4 (Containment and Tethering)**

a) Dogs must not be contained or tethered in a way that causes them injury or distress.

b) Collars must fit comfortably without damaging the skin or restricting breathing.

Recommended best practice

a) Owners should keep their dog under control at all times. This is best achieved by providing a secure but confined environment where dogs roam. If a property is not appropriately fenced, then the dog should be kept indoors or provided with an outdoor kennel with an attached run or a tether.

b) Dogs should not be left unattended or routinely tethered by choke-chains or other devices which tighten around the neck.

c) Collars should be checked frequently, particularly in young growing dogs, and loosened if they become tight to prevent effects such as chafing of the skin or restriction of breathing.

Minimum standard No. 5 (Kennelling, Shelter and Ventilation)

Dogs must be provided with sheltered and dry sleeping quarters.

b) Measures must be taken to enable dogs to keep warm in cold weather.

c) Sleeping quarters must be large enough to allow the dog to stand up, turn around, and lie down comfortably.

d) Dogs must be able to urinate and defecate away from the sleeping area.

e) Ventilation and shade must be provided in situations where dogs are likely to experience heat distress.

Recommended best practice

Kennels should be constructed of solid, non-permeable materials, preferably raised above ground level, be stable, draught-free and of sufficient size to comfortably house each dog.

b) Dogs should not be required to sleep on concrete or metal surfaces. Where kennel and run areas are made of these materials, dogs should be provided with a raised platform, shelf or other type of bed made of a softer material on which to sleep.

c) Housing should be sited to provide shelter from cold, wet and windy weather, and to provide shade on hot sunny days, with the ideal area providing both shade and sun. Shade is especially important during the hottest part of the summer when artificial shade should be provided where no natural shade exists.

d) Where a number of dogs are kept together, such as in boarding kennels or pet shops, ventilation should be controlled to manage dampness and noxious odours and to minimise the airborne spread of infectious diseases such as kennel cough.

e) Dogs should only be housed communally if they are known to interact well together, or are kept under observation to ensure that they do not fight.

f) Kennels and kennels with runs attached should be no smaller than the minimum kennel and run sizes.

Report animal cruelty or an animal emergency
for animal welfare emergencies, please call your local SPCA Centre. 

Thanks for your support, Jen x