April 24, Altoona, PA — Their families and friends feared for their lives and elicited promises of daily phone calls, but the Dognamic Duo braved the trip anyway; 3,453 miles, 12 states, 240 dog caretakers, and 1051 chained and penned dogs, all in the space of just 12 days. The Dognamic Duo, consisting of animal activists Tammy Grimes, founder of Dogs Deserve Better, and Dawn Ashby, Public Liaison Director of Dogs Deserve Better, hit the road to prove two things: just how prevalent chaining and penning are in America, and how crucial it is to dog advocates in every state to step up to chain-ge minds via education and legislation.
The Duo encountered lunging and biting dogs, the effects of flooding, tornadoes, and fireworks, and confrontations with a few guardians who didn't like the message they were sending.
Says founder Tammy Grimes, "Most of the fireworks occurred in South Carolina, widely known on the East Coast as the Fireworks Capitol. However, the fireworks we encountered were of a different variety...a mastiff wanting us for dinner, a paranoid woman freaking the moment she saw us, and a couple of inebriated folks vowing to 'put lead in someone's ass if they didn't stop talking to them about their dog.' Luckily for us, they were mostly bark with little bite, and they weren't bearing any firearms upon their person at the time—except for the mastiff with his 42 teeth and over 300 pounds of pressure per square inch—and we weren't getting close enough to him to test that weaponry!"
Dawn was bit by a chained shepherd who faked nice and then grabbed her ear, and lunged at by a rottie as she tried to give him water. Tammy talked a chow puppy out of its cage and to the vet's for emergency wound care, and was able to sqeeze into every conversation a tidbit about how dogs really DO want to live in the home with the family—no matter how big they are (the usual excuse for why the dog had to stay outside).
"We found we caught a lot more chained dog caretakers with offers of free fencing than vinegar; we also offered free collars, leashes, dog treats, and toys, which we handed out with a smile and a friendly attitude. This willingness to meet them where they were went a long way toward fostering good relationships, and hopefully was instrumental in opening some minds." Grimes continued.
The duo found a lot more than they bargained for; 1051 dogs as opposed to the sought-after 120, as well as many more aggressive dogs than they expected. Each day they interacted with around 20 caretakers, and left information for at least 20 more who were not home. Each night they posted videos and a diary of the day's events online.
Said Ashby, "All I can say is send out the troops! What Tammy and I saw blows our minds...Everywhere we went there were more and more dogs on chains and in pens with no water, no food, nothing! Their spirits were either broken or they had already become so aggressive no one could step near them. How can people just forget about their friends like that?"
The tour encompassed the following states: Day 1: April 6th, Missouri; Day 2: April 7th, Arkansas; Day 3: April 8th, Lousiana; Day 4: April 9th, Mississippi; Day 5: April 10, Alabama; Day 6: April 11, Georgia; Day 7: April 12, South Carolina; Day 8: April 13, North Carolina; Day 9: April 14, Tennessee; Day 10: April 15, Kentucky; Day 11: April 16, Virginia; Day 12: April 17, West Virginia.
To read Grimes Top Five List of the Things she Learned on the Tour, and see videos, diaries and photos of the tour, visit the website at http://www.dogsdeservebetter.org/dognamictour.html.
To watch Daily Videos of the Tour, Click the Below Links:
Day One, Missouri
Day Two, Arkansas
Day Three, Louisiana
Day Four, Mississippi
Day Five, Alabama
Day Six, Georgia
Day Seven, South Carolina
Day Eight, North Carolina
Day Nine, Tennessee
Day Ten, Kentucky
Day Eleven, Virginia
Day Twelve, West Virginia
Tour Wrap-Up Video
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