We inspire change

Fences For Fido envisions a world where dogs never have to be chained or tethered because their families have all the resources they need to keep their pets happy, healthy, and safe. To accelerate the unchaining movement, we support other organizations in duplicating our work, and we promote changes in the law. 

Fences For Fido was instrumental in passing Oregon’s first anti-tethering law, which restricts the amount of time a dog can be chained. It took effect January 1, 2014

Drafted and supported by a broad coalition, the law adds an important tool to address the public safety and animal welfare problems presented by chronically chained dogs in communities across Oregon. Like all laws, this one is intended to be enforced by appropriate law enforcement officers. Fences For Fido does not have enforcement authority.

The new law does the following:

1. Limits tethering to:
   • Ten hours (in a 24 hour period) when dog is tethered to a stationary object;
   • Fifteen hours (in a 24 hour period) when dog is tethered to a running line, “zip line”, trolley, or pulley system;
2. Prohibits use of choke and pinch collars when tethering dogs;
3. Creates the offense of unlawful tethering, which
   • Is a Class B violation;
   • Is a Class B misdemeanor if the unlawful tethering results in the physical injury of the dog;
   • Is a Class A misdemeanor if the unlawful tethering results in serious physical injury or death of the dog
4. Creates new definitions for “adequate shelter” and “adequate bedding” to better protect animals from the elements
   • Prohibits sheltering in or under the following:
     • under vehicles, homes or porches; 
     • in vehicles when doing so endangers the dog;
     • in cardboard boxes, in crates and carriers designed for temporary housing;
     • in wire cages;
     • in areas surrounded by debris or hazards that pose a threat to the dog
   • Dogs tethered under the following circumstances are not subject to the tethering time limitations
     • Tethering in the physical presence of the person who owns, keeps, or controls the dog;
     • Tethering to comply with rules of campgrounds or other recreational area;
     • Tethering in connection with activities requiring a license, including hunting;
     • Tethering in connection with herding or protecting livestock, dogsledding or hunting;
     • Tethering while dogs are being transported;

The law gives officers a valuable tool for enforcement:

We work with law enforcement agencies and animal control officers across Oregon, providing a valuable tool to help families meet legal requirements. Officers can reach out to Fences For Fido when they know that a citation or a fine won’t help a family come into compliance. The truth is that fences and doghouses are simply too expensive and labor-intensive for many families to provide on their own. Reaching out to Fences For Fido gives agencies a proactive way to correct problems, create better living conditions for pets, and heal the neighborhood rifts that often result from chronic animal control complaints.

We wanted to share our message with the world and inspire others to join the unchained movement. We created a YouTube channel to help spread our message. Access it here.

And we actively mentor people who want to start unchaining organizations in their own states. Our project, called “Unchained Planet,” provides fledgling organizations with helpful documents, guidelines, doghouse plans, fence-building instructions, and moral support to launch their own programs.