Child Safety
Chaining or tethering an unattended dog is dangerous for children.
The Humane Society of the United States reports: "Dogs tethered for long periods can become highly aggressive. Dogs feel naturally protective of their territory. When confronted with a perceived threat, they respond according to their fight-or-flight instinct. A chained dog, unable to take flight, often feels forced to fight, attacking any unfamiliar animal or person who unwittingly wanders into his or her territory."
Confining an unattended dog by chain or tether presents an extremely dangerous situation for children. Young children do not always recognize property boundaries or potential risks from contact with dogs. And unlike a secure fence or the walls of a house, a chain or tether does not prevent a young child from getting too close to the dog.
Please consider the following:
“Every forty seconds, someone is presented to an emergency room in the U.S. for dog bite related injury. About sixty percent of the victims are children.” - College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Dog Bite Facts, June 2004.
“Never tether or chain your dog because this can contribute to aggressive behavior.” - American Veterinary Medical Association, Safety Tips for Dog Owners, JAVMA News, May 15, 2003.
A chained dog is 2.8 times more likely to bite. - Gershman, Sacks, and Wright, Which Dogs Bite? A Case-Control Study of Risk Factors, Pediatrics, Vol.93 No. 6, June 1994.
In a press release dated April 28, 2006, Mothers Against Dog Chaining reports that at least 84 children in the U.S. have been seriously injured or killed by chained dogs since October 2003.
Ten recent Texas cases bring the problem close to home:
In October of 2003 a dog attacked a 4-year-old Henderson County boy while the boy was walking to the school bus stop. The boy suffered injuries to his head, ear, and leg. The dog was on a chain at the time of the attack. [link to story]
In December of 2005 a 2-year-old Zavala County boy was attacked by the family pit bull. The boy sustained serious injuries to his face and head. The dog was on a tether at the time of the attack. [link to story]
In June of 2006 a 2-year-old El Paso County girl was staying at the home of a neighbor. She wandered into the backyard and was killed by neighbor’s dog. The dog was on a tether at the time of the attack. [link to story]
In October of 2006 a 2-year-old Galveston County girl was visiting at her aunt's house when she was attacked by the family dog. The girl suffered bites to her face and arms and had to be hospitalized. The dog was on a chain at the time of the attack. [link to story]
In January of 2007 a 10-year-old San Antonio girl was trying to help untangle a dog's collar from a fence when the dog attacked and killed her. A local health official subsequently reported that the dog was chained prior to the attack and had little or no socialization. [link to story]
In March of 2007 a 2-year-old Dallas County girl was riding her tricycle in the family’s yard when she was attacked and killed by the family dog. The dog was on a chain at the time of the attack. [link to story]
In April of 2007 an 8-year-old Nacogdoches child was bitten by the family dog. Nacogdoches Police report the dog was on a chain at the time of the attack. [link to story]
In May of 2007 two Silsbee girls, an 18-month-old and her 4-year-old cousin, were attacked and seriously injured by their uncle's dog while attending a family reunion. The dog was on a chain at the time of the attack. [link to story]
In August of 2007 a 4-year-old Slocum girl was seriously injured by a neighbor’s dog while playing in the neighbor’s yard. Her mother was also injured while defending the girl. The dog was on a chain at the time of the attack. [link to story]
In January of 2008 an 8-year-old Anderson County boy suffered a severe arm injury when he reached to pick up a basketball near a neighbor’s dog. The dog was on a chain at the time of the attack. [link to story]
Please visit these sites for more evidence of the danger that dog chaining poses to children:
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"...the natural fight or flight response afforded to most animals in most stressful situations is denied to a chained animal.” ... "The dog is cognizant of the fact that he can only retreat the length of the chain and will often opt to ‘stand his ground.’ Removing the option of flight for any animal will always increase the chance of a physical encounter (or fight response) to a perceived threat." - Karen Delise, Author, Fatal Dog Attacks: The Stories Behind the Statistics. |
Chain Free Austin
P.O. Box 13477
Austin, TX 78711-3477
Email: info@chainfreeaustin.org