Tipton, PA

Friday, June 10, 2011

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Spent 10 hours a day chained to doghouse on state Capitol steps to win law for chained dogs

June 10, 2011, Tipton, PA—Tamira Thayne, a woman who spent 52 days (54 in total with the help of others) chained to a doghouse on the Pennsylvania State Capitol steps, has just released a book about her ordeal entitled "Capitol in Chains: 54 Days of the Doghouse Blues."

The book details long days in sweltering heat and mind-numbing cold, days of solid rain when there was no umbrella, and boredom so all-encompassing that watching a cicada was the highlight of the day.

Thayne is the founder of Dogs Deserve Better, a nonprofit working to bring dogs into the home and family, and she grew frustrated that their attempts to win a law for chained dogs fell on deaf ears for six years.

She took her one-woman crusade to the Capitol steps in hopes of enlightening Senators and Reps as to how painful is this life for a dog, but still left empty-handed (albeit tan) when the session ended in October.

The book's release coincides with Chain Off, when Dogs Deserve Better volunteers annually spend time chained to doghouses in different parts of the country advocating for better laws for chained canines.

This year, 25-30 activists will join Thayne on the PA Capitol Steps June 20th for Chain Off in support of two tethering bills: HB 826, which was introduced in the House in February by Rep. Scavello, and SB 972, which was introduced in the Senate in April by Sen. Alloway. These bills would limit the amount of time a dog could spend chained each day, and provide some protection for extreme weather conditions such as heat, cold, and storms.

Thayne states, "Dogs want nothing more than to be with us, their pack, and leaving them in solitary confinement is damaging to both the dog and the caring neighbors who are forced to witness the neglect. I never realized how few perfect weather days we have until I lived my life out there like a dog; the amount of empathy I have for their condition has only risen, and I am more determined than ever to win better laws on their behalf."

Laws against chaining dogs for life are a growing trend in America, with four states successfully enacting time limits on chaining, and over 200 cities and counties nationwide setting similar limits or bans.

"Capitol in Chains: 54 Days of the Doghouse Blues" is currently available on the group's website at http://www.dogsdeservebetter.org, and will soon be available at all online outlets.

Dogs Deserve Better is a 501c3 national nonprofit headquartered in Tipton, Pennsylvania, and is the 2010 First Place Winner of the American Dog Humanitarian Awards "Voice for Ending the Chaining of Dogs."

Tamira Ci Thayne

Executive Director

Dogs Deserve Better

Tipton, PA

814.941.7447