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.