Woman in Doghouse to Hold Icy Four-Hour Statehouse Vigil

As Chained Dogs Shiver, Ache, and Freeze in Ohio Backyards, PETA Supporter Will Urge Officials to Push Anti-Tethering Bill Forward

For Immediate Release:
January 26, 2016

Contact:
Catie Cryar 202-483-7382

Wearing only a cotton T-shirt, a PETA supporter will crouch for four hours inside a doghouse in frigid weather at the Ohio Statehouse on Wednesday in order to urge legislators to pass an anti-tethering bill introduced by state Rep. John Barnes Jr. The legislation would help protect hundreds of dogs who are left to languish in winter weather, including during storms, in backyards throughout the state. Chained dogs tend to become aggressive from frustration, misery, and lack of socialization, as evidenced by the attack by a chained dog who killed a 71-year-old Ohio woman a few months ago and an incident after that in which another chained dog inflicted severe bite wounds on the face and head of a 7-month-old girl. A 9-year-old girl was also attacked in July 2015 by a chained dog who bit off part of her nose and lip.

Where:           The southeast corner of High and Broad streets, Columbus

When:             Wednesday, January 27, 9 a.m.–1 p.m.

“Every Ohio dog deserves to be warm indoors, and citizens deserve to be safe in their streets and neighborhoods,” says PETA Senior Vice President Daphna Nachminovitch. “State legislators need to push this vital bill forward and join PETA in calling for everyone to make dogs a part of the family and keep them indoors.”

Every year, PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way”—receives thousands of complaints about people who leave dogs outside in the cold. Dogs and other animals can suffer from frostbite and exposure, and they can become dehydrated when water sources freeze. Cold weather spells extra hardship for “backyard dogs,” who often go without adequate food, water, shelter, or veterinary care.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.