Mindy Larson, July Grady and some children who are local members of Dogs Deserve Better, were chained to a dog house outside of the Agana Shopping Center.
Although the children were only able to volunteer during the day, the adults stayed chained for 24 hours, beginning 10 a.m. Saturday to 10 a.m. Sunday.
Dogs Deserve Better is a national, nonprofit organization whose mission is to bring dogs out of the yard and into the home with the family.
While being chained to a doghouse was only an attraction to get people to come out, the chain-off also symbolizes the cruelty that dogs are subject to, as opposed to being able to physically be with and interact with humans.
Dogs are 2.8 times more likely to bite when chained or penned, according to an informational handout provided by Dogs Deserve Better. It was reported that 304 children in the United States were killed or seriously injured by dogs living chained or penned between October 2003 and April 2010.
First time
This is the first time Larson has chained herself to a doghouse for 24 hours.
“It got some people out,” she said of the chaining event. “Without it, it wouldn’t have been effective. No one would have showed up if we said we were just giving out information.”
Larson went on to add that the organization is a free resource to help people to find a different route in handling their dogs. There are alternatives to chaining, she said.
“We want to help people. We’ll come out and help build the fence if you want to get your dog off the chain,” said Larson. “You just have to want to change.”
When asked how to handle situations in which owners specifically chain their vicious dogs, Larson noted the risk that comes with chaining. She recommended that dog owners seek help from dog professionals or volunteers such as herself.
“The actual worse thing for a dog that has aggressive behavior is to put him on a chain or a small pen, because that’s just making the situation worse,” she said.
“Find a professional or someone to help you help the dog instead of masking the situation,” she added.
For more information about the nonprofit organization, visit dogsdeservebetter.org.
