"Tethering is the practice of chaining, tying, fastening, or restraining a dog to a ground stake or a stationary object (such as a tree, fence, car, or dog house), usually in a pet owner’s yard, as a means of keeping the dog under control. The term does not refer to a dog being walked on a leash. "

The Humane Society of the United States concludes that an otherwise friendly dog, when persistently chained, becomes neurotic, anxious, and often aggressive. As opposed to protecting the owner or property, a tethered dog is often fearful due to poor socialization and previous negative encounters with people or other animals. The dog realizes one thing: he cannot get away. His only recourse may be to growl, bark, lunge, or bite in self-defense.

Children are the most common victims of dog attacks. According to dog bite statistics, 70% of fatal dog attacks and more than half of bite wounds requiring medical attention involve children. Frequently, such attacks occur when a chained dog lashes out, either in aggression or aggressive play, and injures a child who has approached him. In the period from October 2003 through September 2007, at least 175 children across the country were either killed or seriously injured by chained dogs. Details of such attacks often describe a dog unsocialized with humans and very territorial of his limited space at the end of a chain.

On a tether constantly, social contact from dogs and humans is withheld, sensory deprivation becomes the norm, and boredom, frustration, anxiety, agitation, and aggression follow in rapid succession.8 Dogs who are adequately socialized with humans and other animals and who are properly restrained by the use of fences and runs when they are outdoors are less of a threat to family members, passersby, law enforcement officers, public utility inspectors, telephone/cable repair persons, postal delivery persons, and other visitors. The result will be a safer neighborhood. Communities should welcome opportunities to reduce the chance of serious injury, death, and suffering of both people and animals. Educating adults and children about specific canine behaviors and their causes, particularly with regard to chaining or tethering, could certainly reduce dog bite injury and death.