Meet Sugar and Cinnamon, the dogs my daughter renamed after they were finally released from their chains June 5, 2010. Their caretaker's falsely told the police in January that they had told me to leave their property twice, and thereby had me charged with trespassing. We won on appeal when they didn't show up for court, and I got the shock of my life when five months later they called wanting the dogs to have a better life! I went and picked them up the next day!

Now their story will be in The American Dog Magazine, and they are well on their way to a better life. Sugar has a hernia that needs to be fixed, which is much better than the mammary tumor we suspected she had. Both girls will be vetted and spayed this week. Please donate to my page to help pay for their vets bills and all the other work our organization does on behalf of chained dogs!

Sadly, there is still no news on the dog previously pictured, the Austrailian Shepherd named Sammy whose caretakers were supposed to release him to us. Without a law to protect him, he's got nothing but sadness ahead unless they willingly give him up. Sammy certainly deserves better!

This year has been an interesting year for me, as I've settled into my work and refreshed my commitment to working with and for America's chained dogs.

The price I've paid for advocating for Pennsylvania chained dogs left out in subzero temperatures and abandoned on property where no one lives (there's not even a HOUSE!) has again been incredibly—shall we say—irritating?

And those who abused these dogs? Received not a single citation for their abuse!

But I am not through. No, far from it. In fact, the longer you stand with me, the stronger I become, and the stronger Dogs Deserve Better becomes. Our reps have done amazing work this year, and our support team has stepped up the pace.

We're poised to start a major capital campaign for our Rescue and Rehabilitation Center, which we are desperately in need of. Chained dogs throughout the country seek refuge with us, and without adequate foster homes, we are left scrambling for a place to put them.

If you are seriously able to contribute to our capital campaign, e-mail Tereza@dogsdeservebetter.org for more details.

Until then, please support me in raising funds as I chain myself to a doghouse for the 7th year in a row—for at least 24 hours! I will be chained in Alachua, Florida, July 3-4th, and possibly in California the weekend before.

Thanks for making Dogs Deserve Better what we are today: a force for chained and penned dogs, and an ever-growing source of help and sustenance for America's abused dogs.