Long-term tethering of dogs is one of the most widespread but overlooked welfare problems in companion animals, causing physical harm, social deprivation, and psychological distress.
Long-term dog tethering is a welfare emergency hiding in plain sight. A dog on a short chain cannot move more than a few metres in any direction -- its entire world reduced to a small circle of beaten earth. This level of confinement causes well-documented physical harm (neck injuries, entanglement) and psychological harm (anxiety, aggression, repetitive behaviour). Tethered dogs cannot flee threats, cannot socialise normally, and cannot exercise. The welfare case for prohibition is clear; the policy challenge is enforcement in contexts where tethering is normalised and alternative housing solutions are economically constrained. Welfare organisations working in these contexts often provide kennels and fencing as alternatives alongside advocacy.