Feeding your Canine Companion

2005 Annual Report
Please click here to view the Sequoia Humane Society's 2005 Annual Report (PDF)

Vets Who Support SHS Spay/Neuter Drives Sunny Brae Animal Clinic 900 Buttermilk Lane Arcata, CA 822-5124 Eureka Veterinary Hospital 4433 Broadway Eureka, CA 442-4885 Animal Health & Surgery Center 1257 Riverwalk Drive Fortuna, CA 725-6154 Myrtle Avenue Veterinary Hospital 2715 Hubbard Lane Eureka, CA 443-8686 McKinleyille Animal Care Ctr 2151 Central Ave. McKinleyville, CA 839-1504 Redwood Animal Hospital 1585 School Rd. McKinleyville, CA 839-9414 Fortuna Vet Clinic 251 Fortuna Blvd. Fortuna, CA 725-6131 Broadway Animal Hospital 3700 Broadway Eureka, CA 442-5717 Arcata Animal Hospital 1701 Giuntoli Lane Arcata, CA 822-2402 Ferndale Vet Clinic 1140 Van Ness Ave. Ferndale, CA 786-4200 Healing Spirit Animal Wellness Center 7650 Myrtle Ave. Eureka, CA 822-8307 Cutten Animal Health Center 4015 Walnut Drive Ste. B Eureka, CA 445-0877 Garberville-Redway Vet Group 230 Alderpoint Rd. Garberville, CA 923-2023 Animal Medical Center 105 N. Main Street Fortuna, CA 725-6114

When people come to the Sequoia Humane Society to adopt a dog one of the questions we ask is, “Where will your dog be kept during the day?" We also ask about where the dog will sleep at night. Our goal is to place animals into homes where they will be part of the family, receiving proper socialization, exercise, veterinary care and nutrition.

The Humane Society of the United States recommends that all dogs be kept indoors at night, taken on regular walks, and otherwise provided with adequate attention, food, water and veterinary care. If an animal must be housed outside at certain times he should be placed in a suitable pen with adequate square footage and shelter from the elements.

Unfortunately, not all dogs receive humane treatment. Many are kept outside all the time, some without shelter, and others are tied or chained up to a fence or stake, often all day for their entire lifetime. Owners that keep their dogs on a chain are less likely to clean the area, which means the animals are living in their own filth. Rarely does a chained dog receive sufficient care, often suffering from sporadic feedings and unfilled water bowls.

Keeping dogs chained or tethered is inhumane and a threat to the safety of the confined dog, other animals and humans.

Dogs are naturally social beings that thrive on interaction with humans and other animals. A dog kept chained in one spot for hours, days, months, or even years suffers immense psychological damage. An otherwise friendly and docile dog, when kept continuously chained, becomes neurotic, unhappy, anxious, and often aggressive.

A proposed bill—S.B. 1578—would prohibit a person from tethering, fastening, chaining, tying or restraining a dog to a dog house, tree, fence or other stationary object for an unreasonable period of time (generally defined as 3 hours). The bill would make a violation of its provisions an infraction—punishable by a $250 fine—or a misdemeanor—punishable by $1,000 fine or 6 months in jail, depending on the severity of the incident. This bill received strong support in the State Senate, passing on June 1st, 2006, and is now being considered by the California Legislature.

You can help protect dogs from living life at the end of a chain—visit the HSUS website and send a letter to your state assembly member urging them to support S.B. 1578. For more information go to https://community.hsus.org/campaign/CA_2006_chaining2.

Dogs Deserve Better is a non-profit organization dedicated to freeing the chained dog and including our ‘best friend’ into the home and family. To find out more, visit their website at www.dogsdeservebetter.org.

If you see a dog that is chained or tethered and appears uncared for, contact your local animal control agency to report a possible case of neglect.

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