# Advice: Keep Dogs Chained When In The Yard - Or Risk Getting Sued By Utility Workers **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 9, 2005, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-keep-dogs-chained-when-in-the-yard-or-risk-getting-sued-by-utility-workers/298560 "2005-04-09T14:26:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Cyros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@Cyros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyros)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2005, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-keep-dogs-chained-when-in-the-yard-or-risk-getting-sued-by-utility-workers/298560/21 "2005-04-12T01:26:43Z")
> [@JohnBckWLD](#): > > …Until I see the incident report Monday, I’m going to assume he jumped on the injured party and scratched him. Have you heard anything yet? ---
**Author:** ![Unregistered\_Bull](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3da27b/32.png) [@Unregistered\_Bull](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unregistered_Bull)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2005, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-keep-dogs-chained-when-in-the-yard-or-risk-getting-sued-by-utility-workers/298560/22 "2005-04-12T04:17:28Z")
> [@Lissa](#): > > In their defense, they’re not doing it to get at people like **JohnBckWLD** who care about their dogs. They’re trying to stop those assholes who get a dog, tie it up in the yard and ignore it except to feed it. > > I had neighbors who did this. The only time they spoke to the dog was to scream at him to shut up when he barked excitedly at the sight of them. It had been a Christmas puppy, but the new owners were apparently surprised that puppies grow and that they need to be _trained_ to behave. The concept of actually having to spend time teaching the dog was apparently too distressing, so they put him out in the yard. Not once in the two years they had the dog did I see them play with him, or give him any attention other than to shove a bowl of food at him. > > Having to walk by that poor animal every day, I honestly considered putting him out of his misery. I would have welcomed some animal rights advocates with open arms. > > Personally, I think they have done a lot of good in areas where they were able to get laws passed. I wish they could in my area. Yeah, it sometimes inconveniences good owners, but I think it’s a small price to pay to try to stop some of the bad owners. Well I hate animal rights folks, so I don’t really have the same take. They try to suppress human freedoms and destroy minority cultural practices because they feel that they are superior. I view them in the same category as hardcore racists, except hardcore racists aren’t getting legislation passed that suppresses human freedoms so they are actually a bit worse. I think that it’s mean to tie a dog up like you describe, but it shouldn’t be against law as long as food, water, and shelter is provided. It’s an animal after all. ---
**Author:** ![randomlyblanks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71c47a/32.png) [@randomlyblanks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randomlyblanks)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2005, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-keep-dogs-chained-when-in-the-yard-or-risk-getting-sued-by-utility-workers/298560/23 "2005-04-12T04:57:31Z")
> [@Unregistered Bull](#): > > Well I hate animal rights folks, so I don’t really have the same take. They try to suppress human freedoms and destroy minority cultural practices because they feel that they are superior. I view them in the same category as hardcore racists, except hardcore racists aren’t getting legislation passed that suppresses human freedoms so they are actually a bit worse. I can’t really say I follow you here. What “minority cultural practice” involves chaining a dog to a tree for days at a time? ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2005, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-keep-dogs-chained-when-in-the-yard-or-risk-getting-sued-by-utility-workers/298560/24 "2005-04-12T14:19:23Z")
> [@Unregistered Bull](#): > > Well I hate animal rights folks, so I don’t really have the same take. They try to suppress human freedoms and destroy minority cultural practices because they feel that they are superior. I view them in the same category as hardcore racists, except hardcore racists aren’t getting legislation passed that suppresses human freedoms so they are actually a bit worse. > > I think that it’s mean to tie a dog up like you describe, but it shouldn’t be against law as long as food, water, and shelter is provided. It’s an animal after all. Well, the problem is that chaining a dog up has more dangers than just the dog being left without food water and shelter. I’ve seen dogs die or lose limbs from getting tangled in their chains. If the yard isn’t fenced, then the dog is now a sitting duck for any other dogs running loose in the neighborhood (or for cruel people who like to do bad things to dogs). Plus even if one leaves food, water and shelter in the morning it doesn’t mean that that food, water and shelter will still be there or in the same place later in the day, especially if the dog tangled themself in their chain. I’ve seen many heat strokes in dogs from these situations. The laws that don’t allow this are meant to protect dumb animals from their dumber owners. If humans want to be stupid and have the freedom to qualify themselves for Darwin Awards that’s their right but they don’t have a right to endanger any other lives, human or animal. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-keep-dogs-chained-when-in-the-yard-or-risk-getting-sued-by-utility-workers/298560.md?page=1)