posted May 10, 2009 12:39 PM         

This kind of mistreatment, which occurred on Monday night in Coolbaugh Townshipa neighborhood, galvanizes animal activists and drives support of legislation that will curtail dog owners' ability to tie up dogs. Whoever left this dog chained to the stop sign set the latest, lowest standard for callous and heartless treatment of mankind's best friend. But it is only a difference of degrees of abuse. Keeping any dog tied indefinitely outdoors is wrong and ought to be against the law. Better alternatives are available and appropriate.

State Rep. Mario Scavello, R-176, has introduced an anti-tethering law in the state House, proposing tightening Pennsylvania's animal cruelty law to make it a summary offense to tie a dog outside between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. State Rep. John Siptroth (D-189) and Rep. Mike Carroll (D-118) also support the measure.

Tied dogs were once commonplace. Every farm and rural residence had a doghouse and a dog whose job was to bark at visitors and, the owner hoped, intruders.

Nowadays more people view dogs as members of the family, and take issue with seeing dogs chained to dog houses or hearing dogs bark outside at night. People know more about animal behavior and understand that canines are highly social animals. They grasp that tying a dog for long periods is unnatural and cruel, and sometimes even dangerous to the dog.

Cases of abandonment, like that of the pit bull this week and another involving two rottweilers left behind last year when their owners moved from Middle Smithfield Township, merely add fuel to the fire. Animal advocates equate outright abuse and benign neglect. They are not the same. But neither is acceptable.

H.B. 1254 calls for tethers that do not tangle and that allow the dog the full range of the length. Dogs must have access to shade, shelter, food and water. The bill would forbid heavy chains. It would ban choke, pinch, prong or chain collars. Owners will be able to tether a dog for 15 minutes as long as the dog is not in danger or a nuisance. The bill allows exceptions for dogs in shows, field trials, sledding and other contests and dogs used to protect agricultural property. Owners who broke the law could have to forfeit the dog.