As we've mentioned recently, PETA is working overtime—literally—to restrict or outlaw the chaining of dogs in the cities that make up its Hampton Roads home turf in Virginia. One of those cities that still hasn't passed an anti-chaining ordinance is Newport News—and that has to change.

Chaining Hurts

Here's why: Just weeks after PETA discussed the possible adoption of a tethering ban with representatives from the city of Newport News—who declined to take up any chaining regulations at this time—a PETA fieldworker looking for animals in need in Newport News found this dog, Weezy, chained in someone's backyard:

Dogs aren't objects that can be dumped outside, chained, and forgotten about—they're sensitive, social beings who require good care and consideration. Like those of many lonely and vulnerable chained dogs whose owners can't be bothered to spare more than minimal attention or care, Weezy's collar was so tight that it had become embedded in his neck, resulting in a deep, painful, and infected wound.

Weezy was seized by law-enforcement authorities and treated by a veterinarian, and the cruel man responsible for Weezy's suffering has been charged with cruelty to animals. But there is a way to prevent other dogs from experiencing this same type of pain: by passing a restriction or an all-out ban on chaining. PETA's out in front on this issue because its cruelty caseworkers have witnessed time and again how dogs suffer at the end of chains. Chained dogs are psychologically and physically neglected. They often suffer from exposure, dehydration, starvation, untreated injuries, maddening flea and tick infestations, flystrike, heartworm disease, and more. It's not uncommon for chained dogs to hang to death after becoming entangled in their tether or to accidentally hang themselves on objects around them. Chaining also puts the public at risk since chained dogs often unleash their frustration on other people, including children.

What You Can Do

Please join PETA in politely urging the Newport News mayor and City Council members to join neighboring Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Hampton, Portsmouth, and Smithfield in passing an anti-tethering ordinance before another animal suffers like Weezy. And if your community lacks a chaining ban, please encourage local authorities to take up legislation immediately.

Wow! Less than a month after PETA spoke in front of the City Council of Portsmouth, Virginia, about the need for legislation to end the continuous chaining of dogs, officials voted unanimously—that's seven to zip—in favor of a three-hour limit on chaining in any 24-hour period. We'd like 24/7, but this is a wonderful change from lifetime chaining!

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Portsmouth is just across the Elizabeth River from PETA's hometown of Norfolk, and it has now become the latest neighboring community (and one of many across the country) to outlaw round-the-clock chaining of dogs. In July, our hard work paid off when Hampton banned chaining altogether. At our urging, Norfolk and Virginia Beach had previously enacted limits on tethering dogs.

What You Can Do

Chained dogs are often at the end of their ropes, both literally and figuratively—miserable, lonely, and vulnerable to weather extremes and violent predators, not to mention a significant threat to public safety. Please help chained dogs by working to pass a chaining ordinance in your community.

We have phenomenally good news for dogs in Hampton, Virginia—one of the cities that make up the Hampton Roads community surrounding PETA's Norfolk headquarters. After about a year of meetings, letters, calls, and discussions involving PETA, city officials, and concerned citizens, the Hampton City Council voted unanimously to ban the tethering of dogs!

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Life on a Chain Is No Life at All

Over the years, PETA's Community Animal Project staff has responded to countless calls for help for chained dogs in Hampton and has met many who did not survive this cruel practice, including Smokey, a black pit bull who was left outside during Hurricane Irene and died in the storm; Tupac, another pit who languished on a chain without vet care, had a massive tumor, and slowly starved; Nigel, a Rottweiler who was kept chained in a disgusting garage for years while his leg muscles atrophied and his paws eroded from urine burn; and many, many more.

PETA is grateful to the Hampton councilmembers—who insisted on a complete ban on tethering instead of halfway measures—and to all the area residents who helped with this important project, assuring that Hampton's animals will no longer lead lives of misery at the end of chains!

What You Can Do

Not only does keeping dogs tied up or chained outside cause them to suffer, the stress and frustration that they endure can also cause them to become violent. Tethering bans protect both dogs and the public from harm. Please work to enact a chaining ordinance in your community.