(The views expressed are the author's and may not represent the views of the Kingdom Animal Shelter.  Author:  Joyce Littlefield)

Dogs have been domesticated for about 15,000 years. Dogs, like their wild ancestors, are pack animals; dogs have been bred to view their human family as their "pack" and to be protective of and submissive to their humans. Hence, they have complex psychological needs - they crave human companionship and are happiest when allowed to live with and be a part of their "family". To keep a dog chained to a tree or a dog house 24 hours a day is like solitary confinement. It's cruel.  Dog's begin to exhibit neurotic behavior, such as pacing or circling. Unfortunately, it is not (yet) against the law to treat dogs in this way - but it should be.

The following poem, written by a friend, captures the sadness of a dog begging for a moment of human kindness.

Photo courtesy of PETA

Tied to a tree...lonely and sad,
I'm a good boy..not bad,
A forlorn awoo...awoo, They left me..it's true,
Tears in his eyes, he continued to cry,
Stroking his head I said he was good,
I'm sure they'll return as soon as they could,
Another awhoo...tore at my heart,
I must go now, or I'll be late, I scratched his ears..and told him to wait,
Awoo, awoo he cried out to me,

A sad little dog...tied to a tree.

                                                    By Carole Ginzel, Toronto, Canada