Last Wednesday afternoon Humane Officer Jamie Simmons was on a call she hates to get. An anonymous caller alerted the San Bernardino Humane Society that an older dog was chained in its yard and didn’t appear to have adequate food or water.

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Courtesy San Bernardino Humane Society

Humane Officer Jamie Simmons collects chains formerly used to tether dogs for recycling.

Sadly by the time Simmons arrived the dog was unable to get up by itself and was tethered by a heavy metal chain. Due to the poor condition of the dog Simmons was able to remove the dog from the yard and bring it to the San Bernardino Humane Society’s clinic. 

It appeared as though the dog had been tethered for a very long time as the collar was embedded in the dog’s neck and had to be removed with a cutting tool. The dog was covered with ticks and clearly had not been to a vet in a very long time, according to Simmons.

“This is not unusual,” said Simmons, “One of the problems with tethering a dog is that owners often forget they are out there.”

According to California Health and Safety Code No. 122335:  “No person shall tether, fasten, chain, tie, or restrain a dog, or cause a dog to be tethered, fastened, chained, tied, or restrained, to a dog house, tree, fence, or any other stationary object.”

The law requires that a dog cannot be tethered for longer than 3 hours in a 24-hour period.

“We have come across dogs who are tethered 24-hours a day,” said Simmons.

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Courtesy San Bernardino Humane Society

Heavy chains tethered this dog left in a dirty yard before the San Bernardino Humane Society educated the owners.

Simmons has been very proactive with this issue. The San Bernardino Humane Society’s “Lose the Chain” program began in 2006 when the law was passed and Simmons has continued making calls on offenders.

From April 2008 to May 2009 she has responded to more than 898 reports of neglect or abuse due to tethering. She has a brochure explaining the dangers and alternatives for dog owners and, she says, most are cooperative.

“I try to collect the chain whenever possible,” said Simmons.

She saves the chains until she has enough to recycle and then uses the money for various programs at the humane society. Her last trip to the recycler netted about $400 when she turned in 1,411 pounds of chain.

The heaviest chain she’s had has been 35 pounds and the average chain weighs between 10 and 15 pounds. Simmons said that it’s not just chains that are dangerous.

“We’ve removed dogs tethered with ropes, cables, and even electrical wire,” she said, “One dog had a rope embedded in it’s leg and it had started to embed which caused a lot of suffering.”

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Courtesy San Bernardino Humane Society

This dog's leg was tangled in a rope for days.

If you are aware of a tethering situation or an animal cruelty case in San Bernardino County you can report online at http://www.hssbv.org/cruelty_report.php or call 909-386-1400.