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We recently celebrated Valentine's Day. Some of us included the dogs in our home in this festiv- ity of love and com- mitment. Unfortu- nately, for a large num- ber of ca- nines life is lived without the warmth of the human bond. So this month, also known as " Unchain a Dog Month," is dedi- cated to bringing aware- ness about those ani- mals forced to live alone, chained outside without the love, care and com- panionship they crave. Dogs are social beings. Put a dog on a chain and leave him/her alone in one area for days, months, or even years and he/she will suf- fer both physically and psychologically. These dogs endure unbeliev- able hardships. They suf- fer from erratic feedings, overturned water bowls, and have no, or lim- ited access to, adequate medical care. Often a chained dog becomes starved, dehydrated and ill because it entan- gles in its chain and be- comes unable to access food or water. They suf- fer from variations in weather. During extreme cold there is no warmth. Rarely is there adequate shelter during heavy rain or snow. When tempera- tures soar to triple dig- its, they often do not have protection from the sun or sufficient, clean water to quench their thirst. Moreover, because they are in a very con- fined area, not only do they sleep, defecate and eat all in one place, but often it is nothing but a patch of hardened dirt or mud that is rarely, if ever, cleaned. In many cases, the ropes or collars encir- cling their necks become embedded, the result of years of neglect and con- stantly straining to es- cape their bond of con- finement. Chained dogs do not receive affec- tion simply because their owners can easily ig- nore them. Because they have no socialization, ap- proaching them becomes difficult. If one takes a friendly dog and keeps it continuously chained, the animal often be- comes aggressive. Unable to distinguish between friend and foe, when confronted with a per- ceived threat and unable to take flight, they feel forced to fight, attacking anything unfamiliar en- tering its territory. In addition, they are vulnerable to other an- imals and cruel people (other than their own- ers). Some are shot, oth- ers set on fire, poisoned or tortured beyond en- durance. They are tar- gets for thieves looking to sell them or use them for dog fighting. As a fi- nal indignity, the dog's chain, easily tangled, can slowly strangle him to death. Under California Health and Safety Code, it is illegal to tether, fas- ten, chain, tie, or re- strain a dog to a dog- house, tree, fence, or any other stationary ob- ject. It is further prohib- ited to tether a dog to a running line, trolley, or pulley with a choke or pinch collar. It is legal to tether a dog for any activity, provided the re- straining of the dog is necessary for completion of a task, is temporary, and lasts for no more than three hours in a 24-hour period. Depend- ing on circumstances, violation of the dog-teth- ering laws in California is either an infraction, punishable by a fine of up to $250 per illegally tethered dog or a misde- meanor, with a possible penalty of up to $1,000 in fines per dog, six months in county jail, or both. Call local animal con- trol if you see a dog that is chained to a station- ary object day in and day out. An official is re- quired to investigate the situation if the dog's guardian is breaking the law. In addition, raise community awareness of the problem. Help ed- ucate the dogs' own- ers, with the hope they will learn to treat their pets better. You may not be able to convince the owner to unchain or even relinquish the dog. Nor may you be able to convince them to make any changes themselves to improve the dog's life. Nevertheless, you can try to be sure water and food is easily reached and available, that there is some modicum of ade- quate shelter and always be relentless in bring- ing the situation before the authorities. That dog is counting on you to be the voice he does not have. Chaining is a terribly cruel fate for the animals we consider to be man's best friend and it is up to us to improve their lives. Ronnie Casey is vice president of PETS — Pro- viding Essentials for Te- hama Shelter. She can be reached at rmcredbluff@ gmail.com. For more in- formation about PETS, visit petstehama.org. 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