Imagine standing outside as winter winds bite your skin and snowflakes sting your face, with nowhere to find warmth or comfort. Buddy — an elderly dog whose owners reportedly chained him outside 24/7 — endured these conditions every day. His “shelter,” an uninsulated plastic igloo, did little to protect his frail, old frame. One Sunday afternoon, Buddy’s lifeless body was discovered frozen to death.

For countless dogs like Buddy, winter is a season of suffering. They need us to watch out for them and work to get chaining banned.

Dogs whose owners can’t be bothered to bring them in the house routinely freeze to death inside makeshift shelters that aren’t adequate against frigid temperatures. Others perish when their chains tangle or freeze to the ground, preventing them from reaching what little shelter they may have. Some succumb to dehydration or starvation as their water and food freeze solid — if they have these things at all.

Even if chained dogs manage to survive the winter, their list of hardships is long. Their paws may crack and bleed from standing on frozen ground. The tips of their ears and tails may rot and fall off after frostbite causes them to become necrotic. Some suffer from respiratory issues brought on by the biting cold, while others develop infections from untreated wounds. Damp, matted fur can lead to hot spots. These dogs are often rail thin and malnourished, their bodies weakened from the constant battle to stay warm. Despite these things, most never see a veterinarian.

Chained dogs suffer in all kinds of weather. Dogs are social animals who need and deserve companionship, social interaction, exercise and more. Banishing them to a lonely existence on a chain leads to severe psychological torment, including depression and anxiety. Many become territorial because their living space is limited to a few square feet. Isolation and confinement can increase aggressive behavior, making them more likely to injure or even kill people —especially children — who get too close. Many bark out of frustration, angering neighbors. In some cases, cruel people have even shot or poisoned these neglected animals.

The best way to prevent dogs from suffering and dying on chains is to enact and enforce laws that prevent chaining.

You can find out if your city has an anti-tethering law by contacting animal control or checking your local ordinances online. If it doesn’t, it’s time to get to work. Start by calling and emailing local and state representatives and encouraging them to ban chaining. Create flyers and ask local businesses to display them. Garner support through petitions, social media and letters to newspapers, and speak at public meetings to make your case: A strong anti-chaining ordinance not only protects dogs but also improves public safety. Studies show that chained dogs are almost three times more likely to attack than dogs who are humanely confined. Keep pushing until elected officials listen.

In the meantime, stay vigilant. If you see a dog left outside in the cold and the owner won’t bring them indoors, contact animal control. If they’re unresponsive or closed, call the police and explain that the dog needs immediate protection as required by law.

Even if tethering is legal where you live, allowing an animal to freeze to death is illegal in every state. Shelter that protects them from the elements, adequate food, potable water and veterinary care to prevent suffering are also required.

If the situation seems dire — signs of hypothermia include shivering, lethargy, hunching and shifting from foot to foot — stay until help arrives. Your actions could mean the difference between life and death.

Headlines have reported the freezing deaths of 30 dogs and cats so far this year — and those are just the cases that have hit the news. Most go unreported. That number will almost certainly climb as temperatures fall. It’s too late for Buddy but not for countless other dogs who are suffering at the ends of chains right now. Please work to end this cruel, archaic practice.

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Melissa Rae Sanger is a licensed veterinary technician and a staff writer for the PETA Foundation, 501 Front St., Norfolk, VA 23510; www.PETA.org.

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