Explication of the petition "You don't attach your best friend"
(see for the full text of the petition below)
You can sign the petition HERE
"Dogs have been domesticated over thousands of years. They have been selected and changed genetically to make them dependent on humans which is why they need to be with people. We wanted this behavior, so we bred for those human-friendly traits. The domestic dog does not exist independently of people, so is therefore not wild. They may be part of our family, but they still have their own individual dog needs that we need to ensure we are providing for. " University of Edinburgh, Scotland
We, who signed this petition "On n'attache pas son meilleur ami" believe that for a dog living on a chain permanently the basic needs:
- a suitable environment,
- a suitable diet,
- to be able to exhibit normal behaviour patterns,
- to be housed with, or apart from, other animals,
- to be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease are not fulfilled for the following reasons :
- Attached to the end of a chain, with limited mobility, very often with an inadequate shelter or even no shelter at all, on muddy ground is NOT a suitable environment for a dog. The animal is not protected against possible hazards (other animals/people/insect bites/diseases) and extreme weather conditions (heat, cold, wind, rain etc).
- Dogs chained up all their lives are not part of a family environment where appropriate care and attention can be provided. Daily feeding depends on the commitment of the owner and can easily be forgotten. The animal is more likely to be neglected. Our daily lives have changed. In the past the majority of people spent a considerable amount of time outdoors: playing, working, gardening and interacting with their neighbors. Today in the age of computers, television and limited free time we spend about 75% less time outside and therefore less time with our faithful friend, the dog.
- Dogs are intelligent animals and can suffer from boredom. On top of that dogs are sociable animals that need and enjoy company (from other dogs and humans). Consequently, most dogs do not like being left alone and may suffer if left without company, which may lead to behavioral problems that are distressing for both the owner and the dog.
- Permanently tethered dogs also lack proper exercise.
- Finally, they are forced to eat, sleep, urinate, and defecate in the same limited space.
Dogs kept on chains permanently don't or rarely get the chance to be trained/educated properly which makes it difficult for them to be adopted if necessary in a later moment of their lives, with the consequence that these dogs are more likely to the euthanized.
Research has shown that chained dogs are 2,8 times more likely to bite. Keeping dogs on chains can create a threat to public safety.
When confronted with a perceived threat, chained dogs respond according to their fight-or-flight instinct. A chained dog, unable to take flight, often feels forced to fight, and attacks any unfamiliar animal or person who wanders into his or her territory.
Experts tend to agree that chaining increases aggression in the vast majority of dogs. For example, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons have teamed up to promote responsible dog ownership, pointing out that tethering dogs contributes to aggressive behavior: “Confine your dog in a fenced yard or dog run when it is not in the house. Never tether or chain your dog because this can contribute to aggressive behavior.”
Whether it is ethical to chain a dog permanently is being questioned now in many countries and states and these countries have reacted positively by adopting stricter rules for tethering a dog. Permanently tethering is forbidden in Sweden,Hungary, Austria, in quite some states in the United States (California, Connecticut, aryland, Massachusetts, Texas, Vermont, Pennsylvania recently adopted a new law that would make leaving animals in the cold a felony , Philadelphia, Washington....) and in many towns and villages in the United States
and in more and more villages in Belgium, the UK, Italie, and in the Netherlands permanently chaining a dog is rarely done.
The Australian Veterinary Association has issued
a position statement on tethering of dogs and they come to the conclusion that "Tethering is a temporary method of restraint and is not suitable for long-term confinement and that other confinement methods appropriate for the species should be sought."
