Tethered Dogs
Bored expression, sad eyes, overturned igloo, short pacing track--a portrait of a tethered dog. Unfortunately, there are many areas of the U.S. where tethering a dog is not currently illegal. But even if you can't get the law involved, there are still things you can do to get your neighbors' dog off its chain.
What Not To Do For A Tethered Dog
First let's talk about what you don't want to do. You don't want to go to your neighbors' house, bang on the door, and scream at them about animal rights. Nor do you want to organize a sit in, rally, or any other form of protest on their front lawn.
What To Do For A Tethered Dog
Now to what you will be doing. Basically, the idea is to stop the dog from being tethered by kindling or rekindling the owners' affection for it. To accomplish this goal you will have to stay on friendly terms with your neighbors. So rather than launching into a lecture and putting them on the defensive, set a good example. Ask if you can play with the dog or take it for a walk to show how much fun it can be.
Sometimes people neglect animals through simple ignorance rather than any ill intent, so give your neighbors the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps after you establish a decent relationship with them and their dog you could casually bring up the tethering issue and educate them about it. They may never have thought about it from the dog's perspective. Be careful not to speak too soon or too much, however. An awkward or heated conversation could undo any good you may have done, so don't be drawn into a debate. Your goal is helping the dog, not winning an argument.
There is a possibility that even after all your hard work the owners may still not care about the dog. If tethering is illegal in your area you should be able to get the authorities involved without too much hassle. If tethering is legal where you live you might have to be more creative. Find out about local animal care laws and see if the owners are violating some other regulation.
