Dutch Shepherd Forum

While at work yesterday I heard about a dog i think it weas a Cavalier Spaniel, that was tied outside on a bungee line. Not sure how long the dog was left outside but when the owner went out to let it in it was dead! Had hung itself. This is not the first time I have heard a horror story like this. How stupid can people be. First off here on Long Island the last few days it has been around 100 degrees with the heat index making it feel more like 110. Why anyone would leave a dog tied out in this heat is beyond me but these bungee lines can be dangerous they are very usefu with training but I dont know why people feel they can leave there dogs tied to them unsupervised. I cant imagine the heartache that the people must be going through but I wish I could spread the word as much as possible that ITS NEVER A GOOD IDEA TO LEAVE A DOG TIED UP OUTSIDE UNSUPERVISED!!! Please help pass it on......

Sadly, this happened to me when I was 14 (now much older lol). Nice purebred Lab. Black. Troy was his name. Dog pedigree was invovled in police training. Nice dog. It was winter and we lived in Southern Ontario. Snow was on the ground and I could not find that stupid screw type thing to hook the dog up to. So, I hooked him up to the fence. The fence was four foot high but somehow this little puppy jumped the fence, the rope got caught on the fence and poor Troy only had enough rope to barely let his tiny feet touch the ground. If he had about another 2 to 3 inches....I will never know. I was devasted. I never owned a dog for many many many years. So when people ask me why my dog is on a short chain (and I am sure some think cruel) I tell them my unfortunate story. Yes. Never leave them unsupervised. What gets me more is I still hear about people leaving their dogs in the car. They think that because the animal has a bucket of water and the windows are down a couple of inches it is okay. (this was done by a police handler I think in BC and over in England. Goggle and you get some crazy hits) Thanks tedge for bringing this up again. It needs to be said again and again.

Here in Palm Beach County it is since June of this year no longer allowed to tie up a dog outside. First it was only for the time between 10-5 because of the heat but now it is verboten at all times.

I dont agree that a dog should be tied at any time, I know fencing can be expensive but its alot safer.

I'm so sorry that happened to you =(

The only time we tie up my gf's dog is when we are out front working on stuff. If both of us leave the front for any reason we bring her. Its just not worth the risk of her hurting herself. We would let her be off-leash, but some neighbors complained about a "vicious" dog off-leash

Dutchringgirl wrote:I dont agree that a dog should be tied at any time, I know fencing can be expensive but its alot safer.

That too is relative. They can kill themselves on fencing too. (collar hung on chain link)
I think the message is, that one should always be careful and smart about where ever you keep your dog.
Some stiuations have the DUH factor (what where they thinking) but sh*t can still happen, even under the best of precautions.
I will never forget how a pup I had got it's paw hung up on the chainlink fence. By some horrible twist of fate, it had the points at the bottom, stuck in between the toes and it's little pad. I was home and heard the screams. It took cutters to get her loose and a husband to hold her still while I was doing it. The fence was standard, with a nice bottom rail, tight and secure, just above the concrete floor. I will never understand how it happened. The kennel had held litterally 100's of dogs before the pup (boarding kennel) and many since with no issues at all. Wasn't it Murpheys law? (what can go wrong, will go wrong?)
As for housing indoors only: I am sure that some dogs manage to get in real trouble there too. But yes, some situations = asking for trouble. Others just plain sad bad luck.

I have tethered both Gwen and Izar.... I don't do it often and I never leave them outside for any length of time. I usually do it when I have to go in and out a lot, that way I don't lost track of them and they tend to wander off into the woods and of course they both beat feet to the ice cream shop.. I lost Izar one day and found him at the shop bothering the customers... he is so big he just went up to the order window and pushed it open with his head... what makes it scary is that it is on a busy road.. I like tethers if dogs are supervised...

Kristie Elliott wrote: and of course they both beat feet to the ice cream shop.. I lost Izar one day and found him at the shop bothering the customers... he is so big he just went up to the order window and pushed it open with his head...

What's wrong with getting some ice cream when it's hot? Yeah, he might have jumped the line. Big deal. Just next time, please give him some change so he can pay for his ice cream.

spoke too soon ! That must have been horrible Judith !!! I should have knows, all my years with horses, If it can happen it will !

My other dog, Molly used to wander off all of the time If I didnt keep an eye on her and she always went to the High School down the road, She became their mascot. They would let her in and hang out in the office or once she was in a classroom laying down.