Porky and Buddy Pet Health – Should Dogs Be Tethered Outside?

by Contributor | June 28, 2017 7:14 am

Dear Porky and Buddy,
I was approached by a neighbor yesterday (Let’s just call her Miss Nosy) who wanted to tell me that I shouldn’t be tying my dog, Buddy, outside in my yard during the day, that it is bad for him.

Whoa! He is never tied more than about 8 hours while I am at work. He has shade and food and water. What’s wrong with that?

I am thinking that he likes being outside and that it is much better than being cooped up in the house while I am gone.

Am I wrong? I love this dog, but I have always left my dogs tied outside.
John

Dear John,
We don’t know all the specifics of your situation or what kind of dog Buddy is, but, as a general rule, Miss Nosy is right.

Times have changed and as we have learned more about dogs and their view of the world, animal welfare experts agree that tethering, especially continuously or for long periods of time, is generally a bad idea.

Dogs are naturally social animals who need interaction with humans and/or other animals. Long-term tethering outside can damage their physical and psychological well-being.

An otherwise friendly dog, when kept continuously chained, can become neurotic, fearful, anxious and often aggressive.

The big problem is with dogs, unlike Buddy, who are kept continuously tethered.

It is common for them to suffer physical ailments as a result of the tethering.

Their necks can become raw and sore, and their collars can painfully grow into their skin.

But even Buddy, left alone in the yard for 8 hours, is vulnerable to insect bites and parasites and is at risk of entanglement, strangulation and harassment or attacks by other dogs or people.

You are not there to stop it, so you don’t know what he has to put up with.

So, as a matter of fact, he is much better off cooped up in the house, with his own bed, his own food and water bowl that no one else can touch, and nothing to be scared of.

He can sleep the 8 hours away in peace and then play with you when you come home.

We’re not saying this to make you feel guilty – but just to ask you to think about a better way to keep Buddy safe.

In the meantime, check out the Humane Society of the United States www.hsus.org for more information about the issues surrounding tethered dogs and what you can do to help us spread the word about how it harms dogs and what you can do to persuade not only yourself, but also your dog loving friends, to end the practice.

And a big wet slobbery kiss to Miss Nosy.

The Oswego County Humane Society provides spay/neuter services and assistance, fostering and adoption of animals in urgent need, humane education programs, and information and referrals to animal lovers throughout Oswego County.

Located at 29 W. Seneca St., Oswego, NY.

Phone: 315-207-1070.

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.oswegohumane.org

Because People and Pets Are Good for Each Other.

Source URL: https://oswegocountytoday.com/community/porky-and-buddy-pet-health-should-dogs-be-tethered-outside/

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