This was the 4th year that I chained myself for the Dogs Deserve Better Chain-Off. Days before my event I was terribly sick from food poisoning so I felt even more sympathetic towards dogs forced to live chained or penned 24/7 outside or even inside. To be confined and seriously ill with no medications, air conditioning, (or heat) comfortable bed, nothing extra to help ease symtoms, I kept thinking about how awful it would feel, how brutal the confinement would become after enough time passed. And then to be sick while living beneath a blazing sun or in the frigid cold, can't get any more cruel. Dogs also get influenza, arthritis, toothaches, cancer; you name it and dogs have the same kinds of health problems we have. They experience all the discomforts we do, from mild to severe pain, nausea, diarrhea, etc . . . I already know how hard being chained is when you're feeling healthy and when temperatures are bearable. But when they reach into the 90's or freezing, I don't know how these dogs survive the constant suffering for as long as they do when in good health OR when sick. I do know that most will get ill from something at some point - and many die from harsh weather, having little or no shelter, starvation, no water, poor medical treatment, embedded collars, the list goes on. They can't withstand these conditions anymore than people can.

I wasn’t going to participate this year because my husband and I have had numerous medical problems and I also had this horrible foodbourne illness. But last minute I found out that the participants for Maryland weren’t able to do it so I felt compelled to. My late decison didn't allow me as much time to prepare as I would have liked to. And I wasn't able to chain for as long because I was still recovering, still quite weak and barely able to make it to the restroom sometimes. If I had really been a dog I would have had to lay in the kind of filth no one likes to think about. I know it's not a pretty thought but that's the reality for these dogs, having to lay in or very close to their own waste and vomit. The next time you get sick, will you take a seat in the dirt on chain? Would anyone really do that? Please consider chaining for next year's event to help raise more awareness about the scope and seriousness of this problem. If you're unable to, please get involved and support this organization in some manner to help put an end to all of this!

Thank you to everyone who supported me! You can still donate towards my  fundraising efforts or your favorite chain off team. It is simple, fast and totally secure.

You can remain anonymous and contact DDB about dogs living this way. Please take the time to find out the address of that chained or penned dog near you - and send addresses via mail to Dogs Deserve Better, P. O. Box 23, Tipton, PA 16684, call 877.636.1408 to report addresses or email info@dogsdeservebetter.org  or go to their website and fill out the form (preferred)  at  http://www.dogsdeservebetter.com/home.html   They can help with fencing too.