St. Bernard Parish Animal Shelter Library Article

T H E C H A I N E D D O G S Y N D R O M E

Adapted from an article by Elizabeth McCutcheon,
Editor, Animals Canada

Chaining for up to four hours is not
harmful, but longer periods of time will
cause psychological damage to the dog.

The sum total abuse to chained dogs adds up to a lot of suffering. It is time that 'chaining' is recognized as abusive and more attention should be directed to it. One of the most common animal problem that St. Bernard Parish Animal Control deals with is the chained dog problem. Typically, a family acquires a cute little puppy, and soon it grows into a large, active dog. The children lose interest. The parents can't be bothered. The young dog ends up on the end of a short chain in the backyard - sentenced for life. It is fed table scraps, when anyone remembers. In the summer, it rarely has water; in the winter it has, at best, a frame shed for protection. It is never off the chain because it is too wild and unruly, so the dog is never exercised, never walked, and rarely noticed. The dog is forced to live dragging a sometimes heavy chain around, living in its own waste, because it is just too gross to remove feces that is trod into the ground. In these cases, the psychological deprivation far exceeds the physical neglect.

From the end of its small universe, the dog watches the children it loves while they play, ignoring, or worse, teasing the dog cruelly. The dog pleads for the scraps of attention thrown its way a few minutes a week; a few minutes out of the dull hours of its chained existence. Amazingly, these type of owners always passionately declare their "love" and devotion for the dog!

Animal Control Officers know too well the resulting chained dog syndrome: periods of depressed listlessness alternating with frenzied barking and/or howling; unpredictable behavior such as growling, snapping and cowering; and sexual misbehavior. There are no signs of a disciplined, intelligent and self-controlled dog that marks a well-reared and properly cared for pet. We know that, under these conditions, almost always it is a question of when we will have to handle a bite case involving the dog, not if.

Are such animals abused? When neighbor's complaints bring S.B.P.A.C. officers to inspect the scene, indignation and denials fly. In all but the most extreme cases, our hands are tied. If the tether has swivels on both ends, is of reasonable length, the dog is provided with adequate food, water and shelter, appears healthy and is not physically mistreated, then the law and, all too commonly, public opinion assumes that there is no abuse. However, abuse and neglect have a psychological as well as a physical dimension and the chained dog syndrome is so common in the New Orleans metro area as to be the norm rather than the exception. Only public education, increased community understanding of the needs of animals and the tactful work of our Animal Control officers can ease the suffering of the dog that spends its life on the end of a short chain.

For information on alternative ways imaginative people have used to successfully house and safely confine their dogs to their yards, such as kenneling, crating, building a run, using an overhead pulley system, or even doggy hot wires, contact St. Bernard Parish Animal Control where education leads to caring.