Discussing Neglected Dogs, How To Help Them, And The Holiday That Promotes Rescuing Dogs In Need
January is jam-packed with a wide variety of pet-themed holidays. This includes holidays like National Bird Day, Squirrel Appreciation Day, and National Answer Your Cat’s Questions Day. However, one of the most important pet-themed holidays of January is Unchain A Dog Month. This article will cover everything you need to know about Unchain A Dog Month including the meaning behind the holiday, how the holiday helps dogs, and how you can get involved.
History Behind The Holiday
The origins of Unchain A Dog Month can be traced back to an organization called Fences For Fido. Fences For Fido is a non-profit organization based in Multnomah County, Oregon. They specialize in building fences, free of charge, for families that own dogs and keep them tethered, chained, or in small enclosures. They also provide insulated dog houses, spay/neuter services, and emergency veterinary care if needed. The good people at Fences For Fido make it their mission to unchain as many dogs as they can and provide them with proper space for them to run and play safely and freely. They’re dedication to this cause was so great that a month-long holiday was created to help promote and encourage unchaining dogs across the country.
The Purpose Of The Holiday
As the name suggests, the purpose of this month-long holiday is to encourage and promote dog owners to unchain and untether their dogs. Dogs are full of energy and they love to expend that energy by running and playing. Playing and running provides dogs with both entertainment and exercise. However, it is difficult for dogs to get this level of entertainment and exercise when they are chained or tethered. Even with several states enacting anti-tethering laws, there are still countless dogs in the U.S. that are chained or tethered everyday. Unchain A Dog Month aims to end this harmful practice and educate others on how to do so.
What Is Chaining?
Chaining can be defined as tying a dog to a stationary object which restricts them to a small range of movement. This is often done by dog owners so that the dog can be left unattended without fear of them running away. Chaining typically implies attaching the dog to a heavy metal chain so they don’t chew through it. Chaining is widely considered impractical and cruel as it deprives the dog from freedom of movement, exposes them to the outdoor elements, and doesn’t provide them with the attention, care, and stimulation that they want and need.
What Is Tethering?
Tethering is essentially the same concept as chaining, except it involves a light chain or rope as opposed to a heavy chain. Although it appears less cruel, it still imposes the same restrictions as chaining. Tethering a dog will also inhibit their freedom of movement, deprive them of much needed exercise, and doesn’t provide the stimulation they want/need. Over the past 20 years, many states (including New Jersey) have created anti-tethering laws to help protect dogs from these inhumane practices.
How You Can Help
Chaining or tethering a dog for long periods of time can cause them to develop physical problems, mental issues, unnecessary stress, and social disorders. If you are going to chain or tether your dog, it should only be for short periods of time and they should always be supervised. If you know someone that chains or tethers their dog, we encourage you to educate them to do the same. The best way to get involved in Unchain A Dog Month is to spread the word about the dangers of chaining or tethering dogs and the impact it can have on them. Be sure to share this article with your friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers so that they can also participate in this wonderful and educational pet-themed holiday. If you enjoyed this article, be sure to check out our other pet-themed articles under the blog section of the official My Dog Walker And Pet Sitter website.