These photos are intended to educate people about the cruelty of keeping dogs continuously chained, and the importance of helping chained dogs. Photos below the "warning" label are explicit and disturbing.

Neglected dogs like these need you to make a difference in their lives!

This poor chained dog, living in a barrel with her puppy, is so sad.

Dogs do feel physical pain. Dogs also suffer in extreme cold and heat.

Rescue workers found many dead dogs at the end of chains and trapped inside pens after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. These dogs had no chance to save themselves. Six months later, Humane Society of the United States still needs donations to help the thousands of cats and dogs they rescued. Please help by donating a few dollars

if you can.

Humans in this country used to be kept in chains while waiting to be sold at slave auctions. Slaves were treated as "objects" without feelings. Some slaves were tortured by cruel owners. Similarly, some people now keep dogs in chains and treat them as "objects" without feelings. Dog fighters torture dogs in terribly cruel ways to make them mean.

Will there ever be a time when all living creatures are treated with respect? (Speaking of slavery, human slavery still exists in the world today. Visit Human Rights Watch to learn more.)

This dog was rescued by the amazing animal advocate Desiree Bender with Where Angels Run.

Why did this dog's owner see the need to place 5 heavy chains around her neck? I'm sure this poor dog would have appreciated some food, too.

These two labs were left chained behind some junked cars. Thanks to the fearless Jaxie with Beebee AR Humane Society, the abusers were charged with animal cruelty. The dogs were lucky--they were taken in by a lab rescue group.
 

This guy is really a prisoner. I will never understand why having a chained pit bull is seen as a status symbol among some folks. Listen to rap mogul Russell Simmons talk about why animal cruelty isn't cool.

Bear was imprisoned by a 5-pound chain, which was cutting into his neck. Bear was rescued by www.washingtonpashelter.org Read this story to see a picture of how Bear looks now! He is pictured with one of his rescuers, Tina Ealy.

This chained sled dog has no shelter, and has dug a hole in the packed dirt for a bed. Visit the Sled Dog Action Coalition to learn more about the cruelty involved in dog sledding and racing. Most sled dogs are chained continually when not working.

Tiger has lived on this chain for years, rarely with adequate food and water, with a matted coat. Animal advocate Brian Vincent offered to build a free fence for Tiger, but his owner refused. Animal control refused to help the dog, too, so Vincent took Tiger from this yard. Vincent was arrested and made to return Tiger. Vincent says, "I think this woman forfeited her right to own this dog … I think he deserves better."

Bailey was rescued from a backyard in Florida, where he had been chained in the 90 degree heat. Bailey's owners admitted that they had not fed him in 30 days! Save-A-Pet in New York rescued Bailey, shipped him to NY, and are currently getting him healthy again. Visit www.baileyrescue.com for more info or to donate.

I wonder how long this emaciated dog lived without food or water inside the broken-down crate. Days? Weeks? Try going for 4-5 days without food or water and you will get an idea of how many chained and neglected dogs feel.

Thanks to Desi with Where Angels Run for rescuing this pit bull, along with so many others.

Smokey was chained in the backyard of an elderly woman who didn't even want her. A rescuer talked her into giving up Smokey and her puppy. Sometimes, talking to the owners of chained and neglected dogs really helps. See a photo of Smokey after she was rescued!

Chained dogs don't make good guard dogs. Chaining teaches dogs to be aggressive rather than protective. Plus--all a chained dog can do is bark! A chained dog is likely to attack anyone--the mailman, neighborhood children, other pets.

Statistics show that one of the best deterrents to intruders is an inside dog. Intruders will think twice about entering a home with a dog on the other side of the door!

The above two photos are from a pit bull fighting ring that was busted in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. Visit Humane Society of the United States, Pit Bulls On the Web or Pit Bull Rescue Central to learn more about the terrible cruelty involved in pit bull fighting.

Listen to rap mogul Russell Simmons talk about why animal cruelty isn't cool.

Not much of a choice--mud or a dirty barrel to sleep in. Sometimes when I am warm and cozy in bed, I say a prayer for all of the people and dogs who have no choice but to sleep outside in the rain and snow and cold.

This dog has no shelter at all. Dogs are den animals by nature and love to curl up in warm, dry places. By their very nature, dogs need a doghouse with warm bedding to sleep in--if they can't be brought inside with the family.

Notice how packed the dirt is from constant pacing. No grass survives to provide a bit of softness.

Dogs tethered for long periods can become highly aggressive. Did you know that chained dogs are almost 3 times more likely to bite?

Dogs are naturally social beings who thrive on interaction with human beings and other animals. A dog kept chained in one spot for hours, days, months, or even years suffers immense psychological damage.

The USDA, CDC, and AVMA all agree that chaining is inhumane to dogs and dangerous to people.

See a photo of Thunder after he was rescued.

In addition to the psychological damage wrought by continuous chaining, dogs forced to live on a chain make easy targets for other animals, cruel humans, and biting insects and parasites. A chained dog can't escape from neighborhood kids intent on cruelty or loose, aggressive dogs (attacks on chained dogs happen all the time--visit our News section for more.)

Chained dogs often become entangled in their chains, and can choke or strangle to death. Once tangled, dogs are usually unable to reach food, water, or shelter. Sometimes a dog will sit tangled for days before anyone notices.

Pedro died of starvation soon after this photo was taken. Thanks, Jaxie with  Beebee, Arkansas Humane Society, for trying to save him.

Ouch. This knotted, tight chain looks painful. Instead of trying to control large, energetic dogs with heavy chains--why not spend time socializing your dog and teaching him how to behave? Dogs are so smart and love to learn. Dogs want to please their owners by doing they right thing. You just have to show them what that is.

The result of a too-tight chain, left on for too long. Many times people get a puppy, chain it up, and forget about it. The puppy then grows into the collar.

Chained dogs also suffer from sporadic feedings, overturned water bowls, inadequate veterinary care, and extreme temperatures.

This dog was confiscated from an Ohio dog fighting ring

Visit Humane Society of the United States, Pit Bulls On the Web or Pit Bull Rescue Central to learn more about the terrible cruelty involved in pit bull fighting.

Khaki was rescued by Desi with Where Angels Run from life on a chain. She could barely stand or walk.

Dogs should be kept indoors at night, taken on regular walks, and otherwise provided with adequate attention, food, water, and veterinary care.

These three dogs are tangled together and none of them can reach food, water or shelter.

Rescuers provided the doghouse, food bowl and water bucket for this little girl. She lived on a chain for 13 years.

Poor Snowball. Dogs Deserve Better offered to provide a better home for Snowball, but his owners refused. He has lived on that chain for 12 years.

Many people treat their dogs as objects that they OWN--like the rusted car on blocks next to the dog--rather than living creatures with a right to some freedom and a good life.

The area where chained dogs live usually gets dirty pretty quickly, since the dog has to eat, sleep, urinate, and defecate in the same area. The smell and mess makes owners less likely to want to go out and spend time with their dog.

These two dogs were part of a dog-fighting ring in Central Florida. Visit Humane Society of the United States, Pit Bulls On the Web or Pit Bull Rescue Central to learn more about the terrible cruelty involved in pit bull fighting.

This hungry boy, Charlie, was left to starve on a chain. He went for a week with no food and was finally rescued by Beebee, Arkansas Humane Society. Charlie was fostered by Smilin' Pit Bull Rescue, but he ended up having to be euthanized. I am so glad that Charlie did get a few months of wonderful care and love, though.

This dog lived his life on a chain, and was extremely malnourished and neglected.

Warning: Explicit Photos

The following images will stay with you for a long time. Please do not look if you are extremely sensitive. Do remember that as hard as the photos are to look at--the dogs actually had to live through the abuse.

Learn how you can help chained and neglected dogs!
 

This dog slipped from the area where he was chained, and died an agonizing death.

This poor dog was found chained and dead by Beebee, Arkansas Humane Society. This dog was chained in full view of the front door of the house. I hope that whoever walked past this dying dog every day will suffer similar pain someday.

This dog was also found by Jaxie Heppner with Beebee, Arkansas Humane Society. This dog died of starvation and was partially eaten by other starving dogs. The abuser, Pamela Smith, was found guilty of animal cruelty and sentenced to jail (a rare event in Arkansas.)

I have so much respect for Jaxie and other humane advocates around the country who face humanity at its worst every day and keep on going.

Many times people put a collar or chain on a dog but fail to enlarge it as the dog grows. Then the collar cuts into the dog's neck causing infectious wounds.

A tight collar was removed from this chained dog’s neck. The too-tight collar left the dog with a painful and bloody injury.

I know, this photo hurts to look at. It hurts the dogs more to live it. This dog's collar grew into her neck, causing massive injury and infection.

One problem with chaining is that dogs will sometimes jump the fence or off a deck, hanging themselves. What a terrible way to die.