National animal welfare organization lends support to Nevada anti-tethering bill to stop 24/7 confinement of dogs
CARSON CITY - Best Friends Animal Society's expert in the mental well-being and emotional health of animals will be testifying in support of a Nevada bill aimed at putting regulations on how and when dogs are tied to a rope, chain or cable (tethering) as well as limitations on confining dogs to small pens.
Senate Bill 132 is now in the Nevada Legislature's Assembly Committee on Natural Resources, Agriculture and Mining. A hearing is set for 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 6 in Carson City. The hearing will be at 401 S. Carson St, Room 3161. In Las Vegas, there will be a hearing at the Grant Sawyer Building, 555 East Washington Ave, Room 4406. The bill was originally introduced by Sen. Randolph Townsend. Break the Chain of Nevada and the Animal Law Coalition helped draft the bill.
Dr. Frank McMillan, DVM, Dipl ACVIM, an expert in the mental health and emotional well-being of animals, and director of Well Being Studies for Best Friends, will testify in support of passage of the bill.
"We regard the emotional suffering of isolating dogs on chains and in pens to be as cruel as any physical abuse a dog could endure," said Dr. McMillan, who is the author of "Mental Health and Well-Being in Animals."
Karen Goodman of Break the Chain said of SB 132, "I so appreciate that the Nevada Senate recognized the cruelty of leaving dogs chained or tied up 24/7. This is a balanced law that takes into account the needs of dog owners who go to work every day and this also means the dog will be off the chain at least several hours a day. This is a good law that will save dogs' lives, help reduce dog bites, and improve our relationship with our dogs here in Nevada."
FACTS about the injurious effect of chaining and penning dogs include:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Chained dogs are 5 times more likely to bite children, 3 times more likely to bite adults.
- National Canine Research Council - Studies show that from 1965 - 2001, 25% of fatal dog attacks were from chained dogs.
- Humane Society of the United States - Dogs kept continuously outdoors, chained or penned, will suffer from the same boredom, loneliness and isolation leading to aggressive behavior.
- Nicholas Dodman, Ph.D. in vet med/Tufts University - "chaining dogs makes them more aggressive. They are natural social animals and it induces 'isolation-induced aggression' and creates a 'junkyard' dog effect. They basically go mad."
###CONTACTS: Barbara Williamson (435) 689-0200 (cell) (or)
barbara@bestfriends.org John Polis (435) 644-2001, ext. 4858 or
johnp@bestfriends.org About Best Friends Animal Society: Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2009, Best Friends Animal Society advances animal welfare initiatives by working with shelter and rescue groups around the country with the mission of achieving No More Homeless PetsŪ. The society operates the nation's largest facility for abused, abandoned and special needs companion animals, Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, which is located in southwestern Utah. On any given day the sanctuary is home to approximately 1,700 dogs, cats, horses, rabbits, birds, and other animals. The society publishes Best Friends magazine, the nations largest general interest, pet-related magazine. For more information on Best Friends Animal Society, visit:
www.bestfriends.org/.
