Whether you live in the middle of the Arizona desert, on a small lot a few miles from downtown Los Angeles, or on a dirt road in Georgia across from a cotton field, you might find that a neighbor keeps their dog chained all day and night, and it seems inhumane.

At any given moment, millions of dogs throughout the United States are spending their entire lives outside on chains that are staked in the ground or fixed to an object.

This practice is called "chaining" and these animals are not usually properly socialized with humans and other animals, and they never receive basic veterinary care, such as shots and deworming.

Often, a chained dog will only have 5 or 10 feet to move around, and this short radius forces them to live in a small area as they walk and sleep in their own urine and feces.

Dogs can easily get caught on fences (causing them to choke to death), or their chains can get entangled around trees, nearby cars, and other objects, making it so they can only move a few inches, which can prevent them from drinking water and eating for hours on end.

Lack of Socialization in Chained Dogs

Chained dogs are frequently the victims of abuse, starvation and neglect. They are not given adequate room to exercise, explore, or find comfortable spaces to sleep.

It's not uncommon for collars to be placed around the dogs as puppies, and as the puppies grow, the collars become deeply embedded in their necks, causing the skin to become raw and infected.

Shelter is often inadequate, subjecting the animals to extreme heat, rain, and snow. Since the dogs are denied love and attention, this lack of socialization causes many dogs to become dangerous and aggressive towards people, making them a liability, especially to children.

If you have become the owner of a formerly chained dog, please see to it that they are treated by a local veterinarian.