The photo above was taken in Pender County in February 2021. Is this representative of what we, as Pender County residents, believe is acceptable when it comes to caring for our canine companions? Is this an image we would be proud to have represent our county? If your answer is no, then join me in petitioning our county government to take a firm stance against chaining animals, just as New Hanover county has. Although most of us find this treatment of a dog appalling, images like these frequently show up on local lost and found pet webpages, and even more chained dogs in our county go unnoticed, unphotographed, and sentenced to a life of neglect, loneliness, and endangerment.  In addition to being cruel, chaining dogs increases their tendency toward aggressive behavior, and significantly increases the risk of dog attacks against other animals, children, and the elderly. Should we have to wait until someone (or someone’s companion animal) is mauled before taking steps to prevent future attacks?

We all know there is no excuse for bringing a dog into your family only to leave him or her tied to a chain in the yard, and even less of an excuse for a county’s government to allow their residents to abuse any vulnerable living, thinking, feeling being —one who is in the care of and at the mercy of the very person abusing and neglecting them. Chaining dogs is not only mentally and physically cruel, it puts them in an incredibly dangerous situation should a predator or even another dog approach. Dogs are not able to communicate through normal body language when on a chain, increasing the risk of miscommunication and ultimately a fight between the chained dog and the approaching one. In these situations, the chained dog is unable to retreat or run to safety. Currently, animal control is unable to fine those who neglect and abuse their dogs in this way. Passing a law to prohibit this type of maltreatment would allow fines to be assessed, and would go a long way towards stopping the abuse. Until then, Pender County dogs will suffer needlessly at the hands of the very people who should be protecting them.

Should someone have to keep their dog outdoors in an unfenced yard for a short time, we would like specifications to be added regarding what constitutes an acceptable enclosure, and under what conditions this can occur.