| Bikers Against Animal Cruelty - Max's Project |
Max's Project Who is Max? Max was a 10 month old pup from South Carolina and one of our first rescue cases. Max had lived his entire life chained to a tree and was basically left there to suffer; only being fed once in a while. Two collars were imbedded into the skin of his neck and he was severely underweight and malnourished. At some point, the imbedded collars were inhumanely ripped off of Max, leaving the skin around his neck raw, bleeding and open to infection. During the rescue process, Max was in a lot of pain but never showed any sign of aggression. Instead, he showered affection to those around him showing what a very sweet dog he was and that he deserved a better life. With the help from a network of compassionate people, he was brought to Connecticut to receive the medical attention and TLC he so desperately needed. The veterinarian felt that Max was healthy enough for surgery to clean out the infected tissue in his neck and close the wound. Unfortunately Max did not make it through the surgery. An autopsy revealed that his liver and kidneys were greatly deteriorated due to the severe neglect he had suffered all of his short life. Had he survived the surgery, his quality of life would have been poor and short lived. Each person who had the opportunity to meet Max expressed how fortunate they were to have experienced his brave and unconditionally loving presence. Max was fortunate to have known love and compassion before he passed. Max’s Project It is in Max’s memory that we initiated Max’s Project in the hopes of sparing other dogs from enduring a lifetime of suffering at the end of a chain and/or without proper shelter. The initiative of Max’s project is to educate the owners of chained dogs about the detrimental effects that chaining has on dogs and to discourage this practice. The main goal is to provide shelter and kennels to animals in need. We accept donations of doghouses and outdoor kennels of all sizes and shapes to continue this initiative and are always looking for builders. The dog houses and kennels are provided to animals in need as identified by Animal Control Officers throughout the state in order to break the chains. Through this effort, we hope to greatly improve the quality of life for countless animals. How You Can Help There are numerous ways in which you can help us with Max’s Project: • Donate unused doghouses, kennels and fence panels to B.A.A.C. and encourage others to do the same! Contact: (203) 234-6135 or email: Max@BikersAgainstAnimalCruelty.org for doghouse or kennel donations. • Report unsheltered and neglected animals to your local Animal Control Officer. • Visit the B.A.A.C. website and print and distribute our flyer seeking doghouse donations. • Attend a B.A.A.C. function. See our website for a current listing of events! • Support Max’s Project by making a tax deductible donation to B.A.A.C. • Educate yourself as to the detrimental effects chaining and tethering has on dogs and contact your local legislators about regulating or banning the chaining and tethering of dogs in your neighborhood. When contacting legislators, be polite and always offer a successful alternative as a solution. What is “chaining or “tethering”? These terms refer to the practice of fastening a dog to a stationary object or stake, usually in the owner's backyard. Why is continuously chaining or tethering a dog inhumane? Dogs are pack-animals; they are naturally social creatures that need to be part of a family. To become well adjusted companion animals, dogs should interact regularly with people of different ages, races and genders as well as other animals. It is an owner's responsibility to properly restrain their dog at all times, just as it is the owner's responsibility to provide adequate attention, socialization and training. Placing an animal on a restraint to get fresh air can be acceptable if it is done for a short period of time and responsibly. Keeping an animal chained or tethered for long periods is never acceptable and considered inhumane. What are the effects of chaining or tethering on dogs? Dogs chained or tethered for long periods can become highly aggressive. Dogs feel naturally protective of their territory; when confronted with a perceived threat, they respond according to their fight-or-flight instinct. A chained dog, unable to take flight, often feels forced to fight, resulting in an attack of any unfamiliar animal or person who unknowingly wanders into the dog’s territory. • A dog that is chained in one spot suffers immense psychological damage. • An otherwise friendly and docile dog becomes neurotic, unhappy, anxious, and often aggressive. • In many cases, the necks of chained dogs become raw and covered with sores, the result of improperly fitted collars and the dogs' constant yanking and straining to escape confinement. • Dogs have even been found with collars embedded in their necks, which is the result of neglect. • A tether can also become tangled around or hooked on objects, further restricting the dog's movement and potentially causing injury or death. • Dogs forced to live on a chain make easy targets for other animals, humans, theft, and biting insects. Alternatives to chaining or tethering dogs • If an animal must be housed outside at certain times, it should be placed in a suitable pen with adequate square footage and shelter from the elements. • Dog owners should have a tall fence (at least 6’) to keep strangers out as well as secure pets inside. • Dogs should be kept safely indoors at night or while no one is home. Typically, chained or tethered dogs are neglected Chained or tethered dogs frequently become "part of the scenery" and are often completely ignored by their owners. They typically suffer from the following on a daily basis: • Sporadic feedings and overturned water bowls • Inadequate veterinary care • Extreme temperatures without proper shelter • Dogs eat, sleep, urinate and defecate in one single confined area which is incredibly unsanitary. These conditions often lead to health issues. • Neurotic behavior due to being continuously chained makes these dogs very difficult to approach. How to humanely chain or tether dogs • Animals that must be kept on a chain or tethered should be secured in such a way that the tether cannot become entangled with other objects. • Collars used to attach an animal should be comfortable, properly fitted and checked regularly. • Choke chains/Pinch collars should never be used while tethered. • Restraints should allow the animal to move about and lie down comfortably. • Dogs should be taken on regular walks daily. • Always provide your pet with adequate attention, food, water and veterinary care. • Animals should never be tethered during extreme weather or natural disasters. Benefits of Spaying & Neutering your dog #1 Reason—Hundreds of millions of dogs are destroyed annually due to irresponsible breeding causing a pet overpopulation. Benefits of Neutering Male Dogs • Eliminates the risk of dying from testicular cancer • reduces the risk of non-cancerous prostate disorders • reduces the risk of perianal fistulas • may possibly reduce the risk of diabetes • Reduces need to roam • Reduces aggression • Reduced medical bills for a healthier pet • Reduces spraying/marking territory Benefits of Spaying Female Dogs • Greatly reduces the risk of mammary tumors, the most common malignant tumors in female dogs • Nearly eliminates the risk of pyometra • Reduces the risk of perianal fistulas • Reduces risk from uterine, cervical, and ovarian tumors • Reduces aggression • Reduced medical bills for a healthier pet Visit the FREE and Low Cost Spay Neuter Clinics Database: http://www.aspcapro.org/spay-neuter/database/ |
