Two Chain off 2008
events in
Wilmington and Georgetown Delaware
#1. Saturday June 28th at Carey’s Foreign Service in Georgetown, DE from
10 am Saturday morning
through 10 am Sunday morning June 29th
#2. Delaware Chain Off 2008 - Kent County SPCA &
L&F Dog Rescue, Georgetown
Delaware
Contact: 302.323.1096 animalrescue@comcast.net
My thoughts about chaining up
for me are these. I have a small home based rescue in New Castle
DE that is 4 1/2 years old. Since my first chain off for 24 hours I
have yet to get over the feeling of every time I am
hungry, thirsty, or tired, that I do not think of all the
dogs our there suffering at the end of a chain across the country.
It used to be for me when I lay my head down at night
I used to just cry at night about all the dogs that died that
day that I was unable to rescue ... well, I don't actually cry
anymore - it's more like my eyes just leak from my tears
without sobbing. I used to hate how many pups and
dogs die every day but now thanks to Tammy and Doogie, I
have now have these dogs to think of also.
When I got involved with your organization it was due to having
rescued dogs who have been chained or lived in horror situations
-- but then again
thanks to Tammy -- NOW I know about the children who are killed
or maimed by my beloved dogs who are doomed to live on the end
of a chain and become capable of killing. I was not aware of
the gravity of this and I have been in rescue for 9 1/2 years.
Your organization has opened my eyes to just how bad it is out
there. I am appalled that only the children and dogs die in an
attack and the creatures that hold our dogs hostage are not prosecuted.
Seems it not just the dogs who have no rights but the families
who have children suffer 90 stitches like this baby.
I am positively haunted by the picture of this baby being killed
by Great Danes in SC.
Animal advocates get chained up to protest poor treatment of pets
GEORGETOWN, DEL. - By
the Countian Staff
Sussex Countian
Fri Jun 20, 2008, 11:09 AM EDT
If you're walking through Georgetown on June 28, and happen to see a woman chained outdoors by Carey's Foreign Service, don't be alarmed.
Animal advocates will chain themselves to doghouses, trees and other fixed objects in locations across the country from June 27-July 7. Non-profit Dogs Deserve Better’s annual “Chain Off” is a unique, week-long event – part protest, part performance art – designed to raise awareness about the suffering endured by the millions of dogs that live out their days in chains.
On June 28th, New Castle resident Marleen Oetzel will chain herself in Georgetown, at Careys' Foreign Service, from 10am Saturday June 28 through 10am Sunday June 29. Carey's Foreign Service is located on Route 18/404, half a mile from The Circle. There will be an information booth and raffle items. The public is warmly invited to stop by.
“Living chained for 24 hours will be grueling,” said Ms. Oetzel. “But my 24 hours of discomfort is nothing compared to the daily suffering of so many dogs who spend their entire lives at the end of a chain, living in a small patch of mud, their chains wrapped around a tree, baking in the summer sun or freezing in the cold, desperate for affection or even just a walk. Most of us can barely begin to imagine the agony and loneliness of such a life for a social, intelligent animal like a dog.’”
Dogs Deserve Better holds Chain Off, now in its sixth year, around the July 4 holiday when "freedom" is on the national consciousness. The Pennsylvania-based non-profit is focused exclusively on ending the antiquated practice of keeping a dog tied up for its life, or for extended periods of time. Although increasingly recognized as abusive, 24/7 chaining is still prevalent and accepted in many places in the United States, including in Delaware, where existing animal welfare laws allow dogs to be chained for their entire lives.
Because of the humanitarian and public safety issues posed by chained dogs (perpetually chained dogs are responsible for hundreds of attacks on children every year), a number of states, cities and counties have started passing laws addressing how long people can chain their dogs. California and Texas recently passed statewide laws that put specific time limits on chaining and a number of other states, including Pennsylvania and South Carolina, are currently considering similar legislation. Several hundred cities and counties nationwide also have so-called anti-tethering laws, some banning the practice entirely.
Nationwide, supporters of the anti-chaining cause will observe Chain Off by tethering themselves in parks, private yards, and other places between June 27 and July 7. Chicago will host this year's main Chain Off event with 24 hours of festivities and educational outreach, June 28-29.
Why is this being done?
• An estimated 6 million dogs live most or all of their lives in chains in the U.S. alone, many of them becoming impregnated and giving birth while chained, giving rise to yet more unwanted animals.
• Because today most reasonable people understand that dogs are social, intelligent animals that require exercise, grooming, vet care, stimulation, and compassion – all of which most perpetually chained dogs never receive.
• Because chained dogs often become neurotic and aggressive, thereby posing a danger to children and adults.
• Because there are numerous, humane methods of confinement that do not involve chaining a dog by its neck for months or years at a time.
• Because the national trend is away from a tacit acceptance of this method of confinement as appropriate, with hundreds of cities, states, and counties passing laws that limit or ban the practice of perpetual chaining.
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Woman chains self for 24 hours to
shed light on effort to free chained dogs
What would make someone chain herself to a doghouse for 24 hours with no contact with home or family?
Marleen Oetzel did just that and will do it again to raise awareness of the cruelty that dogs suffer as a result of being chained or penned up for their entire life.
“They just sit and watch their life go by,” said Oetzel. “Hopefully National ChainOff will help.”
Since 2003 the National ChainOff has been a movement to bring awareness to the plight of chained dogs and try to change laws for keeping dogs on chains.
Besides the dogs not having a good life, hundreds of children are maimed and sometimes even killed by dogs that are chained up or penned in cages.
“Dogs that are chained are very territorial,” says Oetzel, founder of Lost and Found Dog Rescue. “If a child runs through their area, the dogs may get violent.”
According to Dogs Deserve Better, at least 165 children in the United States have been killed or injured by dogs living on chains or penned between October 2003 and August 2007.
The group DogsDeserveBetter.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to freeing the chained dog and bringing man’s best friend into the home and family.
Dogs Deserve Better raises money to rescue dogs or to build or provide welded wire fencing if the dogs are brought into the home.
“The goal this year is $60,000 for the Dogs Deserve Better group,” said Oetzel. “I’m trying to raise $4,000 myself. I have $1,590 so far.”
From June 27- July 7, animal advocates from around the country will be chaining themselves up to a multitude of fixed objects. The event is designed to raise awareness about the millions of dogs who spend their lives in chains. The annual Chain Off week is sponsored by nonprofit Dog’s Deserve Better.
In response to why she will be chaining herself up for 24 hours, participant Marleen Oetzel of New Castle, Delaware told the Sussex Countian, “living chained for 24 hours will be grueling, but my 24 hours of discomfort is nothing compared to the daily suffering of so many dogs who spend their entire lives at the end of a chain, living in a small patch of mud, their chains wrapped around a tree, baking in the summer sun or freezing in the cold, desperate for affection or even just a walk. Most of us can barely begin to imagine the agony and loneliness of such a life for a social, intelligent animal like a dog.’”
According to some legislators, chained-up dogs often become neurotic and obsessive, which can lead them to be aggressive; hence a common association with attacks on children. Therefore, many states have adopted new “chaining” laws because of the rise in public safety costs.
For example, California and Texas recently passed laws enforcing a time limit for dogs to be chained up. Meanwhile, Pennsylvania and South Carolina are following suit with similar legislation.
Despite a rise in anti-animal cruelty awareness, several states have either neglected to adopt, or remained stagnant in legislation protecting dogs from the chain. Delaware, for example, has neglected to change an existing animal welfare law allowing dogs to be chained up their entire lives.
New Castle Woman Chains Herself to Protest Poor Treatment of Dogs
Its part of a ten-day nationwide effort to bring attention to the plight of dogs who are kept chained for life.
By Allan Krakower, 1450 WILM Newsradio
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Marleen Oetzel is spending her Independence Day weekend far from celebratory crowds, but hoping to draw a crowd herself. The New Castle resident is spending nine hours each on Saturday and Sunday chained at the Faithful Friends No Kill Animal Shelter located at 12-A Germay Drive off Maryland Avenue. Oetzel's protest runs from 8am-5pm each day. Her effort is affiliated with the 6th Annual Dogs Deserve Better Chain Off, a Pennsylvania group looking to end the practice of tying up a dog for all or most of its life. Oetzel says, "...my 24 hours of discomfort is nothing compared to the daily suffering of so many dogs who spend their entire lives at the end of a chain, living in a small patch of mud, their chains wrapped around a tree, baking in the summer sun or freezing in the cold.... Most of us can barely begin to imagine the agony and loneliness of such a life for a social, intelligent animal like a dog."
In addition to Oetzel's protest at the shelter, there will be related activities including an information kiosk, raffle items, and face-painting.
Dogs Deserve Betters says there are about six million dogs in the U.S. who live much or all of their lives in chains. Some become pregnant and give birth in that condition. Chained dogs can develop neurotic and aggressive behaviors and as such can be dangerous to kids and adults. The organization says there are more humane ways to confine dogs.
Several states have recently passed legislation dealing with the amount of time a dog can be chained, including California and Texas. Pennsylvania and South Carolina are among several other states considering similar laws.
Marlene Oetzel, Founder and Director of Lost & Found Dog Rescue in Delaware is participating in the 2008 Chain Off sponsored by Dogs Deserve Better, the organization founded and run by Tammy Grimes.
