A family gets a healthy, playful puppy. The children and parents dote over the pup, and for the first few months of his life, he is the center of attention. But soon the puppy grows into a large, active dog. The children lose interest, and the parents can't be bothered. The dog ends up on a four-foot chain in the backyard. The dog is fed table scraps when anyone remembers. In summer, no one thinks to give him water. In bad weather, he has no shelter. Sometimes, he's left for days at a time with nothing to eat. The dog is never walked, never exercised. Eventually, he's never even noticed. Alone day after day, the dog becomes bored and frustrated. He barks, and the neighbors complain. Passing children tease and annoy him. Because he has nothing to do, he becomes listless...and then aggressive. Finally, he has to be destroyed. And the next day, the children start begging for a puppy. This kind of pet ownership is cruel and irresponsible . Make your pet a part of your family - for everyone's sake. If your neighbor's dog is chained and is suffering or creating a nuisance, call us and we'll try to do something about it. [return to top]