In memory of Fritz and other chained dogs, urge your delegate to support HB 646

Editor’s note: Delegate John Bell has introduced HB 646 in the Virginia House of Delegates.  This bill would prohibit tethering or chaining a dog during the most extreme conditions including temperatures below freezing or above 85 degrees and during heat advisories and severe weather alerts. Today’s guest blog is from Board member Lee Anne Holdren.   

Although as a member of the Board of Directors of the Richmond SPCA, I have many reasons to ask my delegate to vote yes on HB 646, the strongest reason is a personal one. His name was Fritz. 

Fritz was 12 years old when I first met him. He was a beagle mix who belonged to our next-door neighbor. To my dismay, I realized soon after we moved into the neighborhood that Fritz was chained day and night to a short zip line attached to two trees in their backyard. Despite being close to grass, he was unable to reach it; his only shelter was a crawl space underneath a storage shed. On more than one occasion, branches fell from above and became entangled in his chain, terrifying him. On snowy days, he paced until he had a bare spot in which to sit; on frigid days he stretched his chain as far as it would go to find a tiny, fleeting spot of sunlight.

This was Fritz’s life for several years; we regularly went into the yard to untangle his chain, make sure he had food and unfrozen water, or shovel snow so he could sit down. On more than one occasion, we simply took him into our heated garage without permission. When the situation became intolerable, we involved our county’s animal control. However, the officer who visited Fritz viewed his living conditions as adequate under Virginia code and therefore would neither seize him nor compel his owners to provide him better protection from the freezing temperatures.

Tethering a dog alone, outside is not only inhumane in and of itself; it is also frequently associated with other forms of neglect. Fritz had never had regular veterinary care; he had painful dental decay that later required several extractions, and he had probably never had a real bath.

In May of 2013, our neighbors tired of my constant pleading and let us take Fritz. Despite years of neglect, he was amazingly responsive, and he quickly became a treasured member of our household. Fritz’s sunset years were filled with grass, warmth, regular health care and his own doggie pool; he even walked in the 2014 Richmond SPCA Dog Jog.  But the happy ending does not erase the fact that Fritz spent his first 12 years enduring conditions that ranged from substandard to horrific.  We can prevent other pets living this life by taking this simple step. In memory of Fritz, I urge ALL delegates to vote YES on this bill.

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HB 646 has been assigned to the House Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources – Subcommittee #1. It is likely this bill will be on the subcommittee's agenda fro Monday, January 29, 2018. It is urgent for the delegates on this committee to hear from their constituents. Whether you call or email, please let the delegate know that you are a constituent by including your home address and simply ask that he or she support HB 646 to prohibit tethering animals in extreme conditions. Find out who your legislator is by visiting whosmy.virginiageneralassembly.gov/. 

For additional information about Del. Bell's legislation Download HB646 Fact Sheet 1.24.18

Members of subcommittee #1:

First name	Last name	District	Party	Capitol Phone	Email
Barry D.	Knight (Chair)	81st	R	(804) 698-1081	[email protected]
Charles D.	Poindexter	9th	R	(804) 698-1009	[email protected]
Robert D.	Orrock Sr.	54th	R	(804) 698-1054	[email protected]
James W. (Will)	Morefield	3rd	R	(804) 698-1003	[email protected]
Robert S.	Bloxom Jr.	100th	R	(804) 698-1000	[email protected]
Matthew	James	80th	D	(804) 698-1080	[email protected]
Mark L.	Keam	35th	D	(804) 698-1035	[email protected]
Debra H.	Rodman	73rd	D	(804) 698-1073	[email protected]

 

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Comments

[Karen Gammon]

Lee Anne, thank you for such a moving story and a much needed firsthand with to relate to. God bless you for taking Fritz into the love of your home.

[Julie]

Wonderful tribute to Fritz, sis. I am so glad he got you as his guardian angel.
Love,
Jules

[Anne-Louise Hyatt]

Thank you for sharing your heart warming story. Fritz was blessed to be welcomed into your family. I remember how you were so disturbed by the conditions in which he lived. I wish you the best of luck with getting the much needed bill passed.