New law in Ca takes effect on Monday

I could not have said it better Paula! What's really bad is that people leave these dogs in hott or too cold climates while they relax in comfort somewhere[:@]

But, there are inexpensive solutions....the cheap wire fence works well if you use enough fence posts.  My shepherds could get over just about any fence if they wanted to, but they've been trained to respect boundaries.  Our dog yard is 5 or 6 foot chainlink, but when the caretaker for all the adjoining property warned DH that the snowmobiles would be right in our yard trying to get to the fields we went out and got the cheap stuff to put all around the property.  Come spring I'll likely fence in along the driveway as well so the dogs have a larger area to run in.

ORIGINAL: glenmar

But, there are inexpensive solutions....the cheap wire fence works well if you use enough fence posts.  My shepherds could get over just about any fence if they wanted to, but they've been trained to respect boundaries.  Our dog yard is 5 or 6 foot chainlink, but when the caretaker for all the adjoining property warned DH that the snowmobiles would be right in our yard trying to get to the fields we went out and got the cheap stuff to put all around the property.  Come spring I'll likely fence in along the driveway as well so the dogs have a larger area to run in.

I think this is a preaching to the choir issue. From  our point of view there's some way of containing our dogs or they'll go out on leash right? But we're not the ones with box dogs whose sole purpose is watchdog. They get fed and they get watered, but their lives consist of a house (if they're lucky) and a chain. These are the people who are, because of a law, going to decide to go out and fence in their dogs?  If they're lucky these box dogs will be upgraded to pen dogs - a 10x10 run.

Paula

i know you live in california so this may not be an issue there, but how are people with say sled dogs affected by this new law? dogs that are highly trained, well fed, and otherwise have a good quality of life but remained chained outside for most of their lives.

i dont want to start a huge debate, just curious because this issue has been raised an email list i am a member of.

If you have a little child, you have a baby bed, home, and things a child needs. If you have a dog, you need to keep him or her safe with a fence, at least a small area for safety. Fences, vets, good foods, etc, it is all expensive, but necessary if you want to care for a dog.

We built a chainlink fence around our back yard(quite large) Why - For the dogs. We had two when we did this. They also lived in the house. The fence was for play and exercise. We have no dog park around here. Wish we did. Back to the fence. We just did not eat out as much, didn`t buy that extra shirt that we thought we needed, no movies (tv has movies on it too) our diet may have suffered some also ( hot dishes no steak for awhile) and no birthday presents that year. It was worth it the dogs loved their new fence. We have a neighbor who has a dog on a chain 24/7. Poor dog. He does have a doghouse, food and water. No fun, no exercise, no companionship as we never see anyone playing with him. We have another neighbor who build a fence around their house little by little. They would build as much fence each year with the extra money that they had. It took about 3 years for the fence to be complete. The dogs really like their fence and the owners are very proud of the new fence they build for their dogs. It can be done. There are different ways.
 

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Looks like someones gonna be in trouble, but not until a few days. he he he[]

ORIGINAL: cyclefiend2000

i know you live in california so this may not be an issue there, but how are people with say sled dogs affected by this new law? dogs that are highly trained, well fed, and otherwise have a good quality of life but remained chained outside for most of their lives.

i dont want to start a huge debate, just curious because this issue has been raised an email list i am a member of.

They excepted the sporting dogs from this, dogs engaged in a sport. That would be sled dogs, too.

And mushers often let their dogs loose in groups of four or five every day for play time. Some do, anyway. Plus the dogs go out with the sled almost daily in the winter. Heck, in the summer they run them with 4-wheelers to keep them in shape.

There are good owners of sled dogs, and bad owners, just like everyone else.

I doubt there would ever be a law like the California law enacted in Alaska, however. There is much too much of an hands-off-let-us-do-things-ourselves attitude here. Less government and laws, more personal responsibility.

Jeano-

I've often wondered if part of the reason that chaining is used by so many more mushers than fenced runs, besides the expense, is that snowdrifts make WONDERFUL doggie staircases. I know when we lived in upstate NY, the corgis loved the first sunny day after a big snow, as it usually froze the drifts enough for them to walk over the fences and go on Adventures....

ORIGINAL: jeano
They excepted the sporting dogs from this, dogs engaged in a sport. That would be sled dogs, too.

And mushers often let their dogs loose in groups of four or five every day for play time. Some do, anyway. Plus the dogs go out with the sled almost daily in the winter. Heck, in the summer they run them with 4-wheelers to keep them in shape.

There are good owners of sled dogs, and bad owners, just like everyone else.

I doubt there would ever be a law like the California law enacted in Alaska, however. There is much too much of an hands-off-let-us-do-things-ourselves attitude here. Less government and laws, more personal responsibility.

i didnt realize they had exceptions. the lists i am a member of are mainly for sibe owners, and i know several of them in the northeastern and northern midwest were discussion laws similar to this being proposed in their areas.

i think their concern was even if their dogs had adequate exercise, well fed, well cared for, etc. they still have their dogs chained all night (at least some do). which would be more than 3 hours.

i like the idea of this law. however, a dog left with no attention in the yard whether chained or left to roam inside a fence isnt a good thing. chances are even if this can/will be enforced the offenders will get the smallest chainlink kennel they can find so that they are in compliance with the law, but the dog will be no better off. [sm=2cents.gif]

If they plan on playing fairly (and I hope they do) I think each case would have to be looked at and decided on an individual basis.  Really, I think all they are trying to eliminate are the poor dogs chained to a tree 24/7  having no, or very little, interaction with their people.  People with working or sporting dogs should be able to explain their particular situation.
 
Joyce

I know when we lived in upstate NY, the corgis loved the first sunny day after a big snow, as it usually froze the drifts enough for them to walk over the fences and go on Adventures....

My sister lost a horse because she walked over a fence on drifted, frozen snow and got hit by a pickup. Fences aren't foolproof - and some dogs can't be kept in a fence unless there are some serious modifications made - which can be expensive. I would rather see a dog safely tied out in decent weather than in a too-small crate or locked inside for extended periods.

I can truly see the point of this law - to have one more way to prosecute bad dog owners. I just hope no good owners get caught into this and that the bad guys don't end up locking dogs into garages and basements and sheds where no one can see and report them.