Door-to-door Education is something that SOAR does once or twice a month. On these outings we try to visit as many chained dogs as we can and gently educate people who chain their dogs. Volunteers offer hay (in the cold months), treats, and harnesses, and explain the dangers and consequences of chaining in a non-threatening manner. If you are interested in joining us in these outings, please contact Tracy at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

SOAR is going to being going on many outings in the coming months, especially with winter coming. We want to make sure these chained dogs at least have hay to keep them warm. If you have any hay that you can donate, contact Tracy at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Outing June 26, 2010 

WHEW! Today was a hot, muggy day for an outing.Our travels today took us to Lawrenceburg, Bardstown, Nicholasville & back to Georgetown. We logged over 150 miles checking on chained dogs and we saw a lot of panting and no water for those simply left to swelter....  On our first stop in Lawrenceburg we met Rocky and Tonka. SOAR received an email about these two left out and the boxer thin. It was 11:30 and the neighbors informed us these folks were still in bed due to a late one last night.. All the more reason to keep ringing the doorbell. They did get up and come out. Rocky and Tonka do indeed live just like we saw them. Rocky chained to the deck, he was thin in my book, no bedding, no food, no water. He could only go under the deck to get out of the sun. Tonka, a thick coated Collie Mix, was chained to a tree, no dog house, no food, no water but these dogs are treated like children according to the owner. She was very irritated we were there but allowed us to visit with the dogs and give each a big bone. The dogs were very hungry and gobbled up the treats we gave. The husband refused to bring water out till we left b/c he was mad. After I made a stink he finally did come do it.We offered to build  a fence for the dogs, Nope they'll be moving soon to a big farm where the dogs can run and live happily ever after. The woman said she was calling Animal Control to report ME for coming there. Can you believe that, I find that very amusing..sorry no pictures of these dogs as I was having camera difficulties.. hate when that happens.. Next up was a dog that was reported by a utilities worker in Bardstown. I love that he cared enough about this poor dog forgotten at the back of this property that I had to go all that way to try and help. He was right, this dog is hidden and only after we ask a neighbor about this dog did her small child confirm where the dog was. This Border Collie Mix lives in the woods practically, away from all life. We found this to be very heartbreaking. Think about it, your chained out so far from any form of life or activity, your just there to breathe and live a useless, lonely existence. Unfortunately no one was home here at this very well manicured home. So they never got the opportunity to tell me to get out. HahaThis dog will haunt me, seeing how it's living and there's not a darn thing any Animal Control will do about it. The dog had water, shade, a dog house.. Nothing more needed in Kentucky!

 

I provided them a list of all the dogs chained there and nothing is done b/c all they care about is that they get the rent. The dogs in this park are very neglected. This beautiful Cattle dog mix is one SOAR is trying to intake. He is chained to the porch and lives underneath. They throw him chicken fingers and any other slop they don't want. He didn't have any water and we had to tell them to bring water out. I had my Spanish speaking friend along today to talk to them.  The boy at the house said his mom works two jobs and no one really cares for him.  Hopefully, they will do the right thing and surrender the dog for a better life.

 

At one stop in the park, a smart aleck girl did tell us to leave. Her dog is chained out in the sun, no food, no water, but he's "fine." according to the gal. He's not inside b/c he chews, and --------- & ------------'s in the house.. Really? well we could have educated her about that but none was wanted. Outings are harder in the summer months b/c the dogs we see are miserable. They cannot get any relief from this heat and people cannot see the harm..In the winter we can at least provide straw for warmth. And for me personally, I hate the heat, and I tend to get a little testy with the ignorance we are seeing. Not one person I asked "if they'd like to be chained up right now" said yes. And in my perfect world, that's exactly what I'd do if I could.Wait, there's one more we just went out and did a check on. 8pm, A Lab chained to a dog house in the scorching heat, no shade, he had a five gallon bucket, EMPTY, and no food. I had to call the police to have ACO go out there as the owner's weren't home. I was able to zoom in and get the dog and the house his owner's live in.They have all the luxuries one could want, yet they make their dog live chained to a homemade dog house. They have also been setting off large fireworks right near this poor dog..what a shame and we'll be keeping an eye on this one.

Outing February 27, 2010

We spent most of out day in Georgetown today and there was not a shortage of chained and penned dogs there.

Our First Stop was a dog that Tracy sees everyday going to and from church. The poor guy always seems to be looking up at the house hoping someone will come out to see he him. His owner did let us give him some straw and a knuckle bone. The owner claimed Rocko was well cared for. We asked how long that Rocko had been chained up. 13 YEARS!!

Next were some Beagles. Five in all with no water...and one lives in a barrel.

Next was a dog named Rocky. This beautiful German Shepherd lives in a very small pen..too small for his size. He had no food, no water, and no bedding. Of course. He is like a caged lion in this pen and would have more room living on a chain. Oh, and the pen was padlocked. The owner didnt want anything happening to him because he is getting ready to breed him! The thing is, the owner doesnt even live there. His aunt lets him keep him on her lot. He comes once a day, whatever time he feels like it, and feeds Rocky. We called Animal Control and next thing he calls saying how well Rocky is cared for and that he was there now feeding him. Rocky is 4 years old and will probably live another 10 years loosing his mind in that small pen. A reason that we need space requirements on pens!!!

Outing January 2, 2009

Outing November 8, 2008 

SOAR's first outing was a memorable one. On November 8, 2008 we went out to houses where we knew that there were chained dogs. There was a trailor park in Lexington that we though only had a few chained dogs. This first stop turned out to be our only stop. All of the people we met were very receptive and thankful. Everyone accepted out hay, treats, and harnesses.

The first dog we saw was a chocolate lab named Jasimine. She was on a short chain. We worked with the owner to make her a longer trolley. While we worked on this we let Jasmine off her chain, she ran like there was no tomorrow. She was so happy to be off her chain.

Our last stop proved to be the most memorable. We knew there was supposed to be a dog in the back of a trailor. When we drove by and called, nothing was there. When we got out we saw that there was a dog back there. What we saw was a starving dog. Dora probably wouldnt have made it through the upcoming winter. She was almost beyond starving. With some convincing her owners relinquished her to us. Thankfully Dora has since been adopted and is living the life of luxury with lots of brothers and sisters.

Here are a few pictures from that outing...

 Jasmine the Chocolate Lab

Dora when we first found her.                      Dora on the road to freedom!

Outing December 13, 2008

We hit about five homes that had chained dogs. We were able to give out some straw, treats, and some cold weather information for the owners. We also offered to build thier dogs a fence. A couple people were interested in doing that.

We met our first "rude" person and Im sure that there will be more to come. He asked us to leave because his dog liked living outside. He wouldnt let us leave any straw. This is the reason a chaining law needs to be passed in Lexington. So that dogs who dont have a chance, get that second chance.

Our last stop had a cute Shih Tzu. This little one was an ankle bitter and we couldnt get near him. The little girl had to translate for us, her parents couldnt speak English. They were thankful for our help.

Outing January 8, 2009

We decided to stop and check on a chained dog that we had been getting daily updates on. When we got there we found Lloyd standing in mud and poo. He also had no food or water. A young man came to the door and we began talking to him. He said that his dog was not neglected. When we brought up his living conditions and that he had no food or water, he asked how many times a day should a dog be fed...We dicussed the possibility of bring Lloyd inside. He said that he had tried but he went to the bathroom in the house. We said that we could help with the situation and he asked us to come back in a couple days. We did and we educated the man how to potty train his dog. We also gave him a crate to put the dog in when he is not home.

Outing April 11, 2009

We had a tip about a dog chained. When we got to the house to confront the people...they came outside and thier dog was standing in the doorway! He was obviously taken care of and was an INSIDE dog! However as we began talking to the lady she told us about other chained dogs on the street.

The first dog that we visited was Lady. This was so sad. Lady was about 10 to 12 years old. She wasnt always tied up but he owners got rid of her and this older man took her. He tied her up across the street in an adjacent lot. She had been tied there so long there was NO grass left in a 10 foot diameter circle in which she lived. He had obviously not picked up her poo..it was all over. She also kept getting her chain caught on cinder blocks that were burried in the ground. She was completely matted, dirty, and she was scared to death of us. We could hardly get near her. One of our volunteers was finally able to get enough trust to fit her with a harness. The chain she was on was so heavy for such a old dog. We offered to build he a fence but the man refused. He said he was going to take her to a farm where she would be able to run....

We also met a Beagle that day. He was soooo cute! It was a young teenage boys dog. He wanted to badly to bring him inside but his dad refused...they would only let the pampered little tiny dog inside. It was unfair to see how much they cared for this little dog and didnt even care about the Beagle outside. His name was Socks. We offered to build a fence for him and the boy was so excited...then his dad came out. He said that there is no way that we could build a fence for the dog. It almost brough his son to tears. We gave Socks a rawhide bone. He was the happiest dog there was! He went straight into the yard to bury it! As we were leaving the property...the little Beagle kept barking and whining to us as if to say...dont leave me here tied up!

The third and final dog that we saw that day was a HUGE pit bull. His name was Reaper. (You can see the fence we built for him on our Sponcer a Fence Page). Reaper was probably tied to about a 3 ft chain. Harldy even enough room for such a huge dog. He was tied to the root of a huge tree...its a wonder he didnt get off. His shelter was a airline carrier dog cage....with holes in it...not so much a shelter?? The little boy had to interprete for his mom who couldnt speak english. She agreed to having a fence built for reaper so that he didnt have to be chained and he wouldnt escape!

Lady

Reaper

 Outing October 24, 2009

Theme of the day: "The dog is not an outside dog, she isnt chained all the time, you just got here where we put her/him outside"

 We set out with a looong list of stops to make this morning. We started on the road with the van full of straw, collars, leashes, treats, and bones. Our first stop was on a report about a pit bull. His name was Nephew. He was a HUGE tan and white pit bull. One of the bigger pit bulls we have seen. When we got there the lady brought the dog in. She was thankful for the straw and the treats that we gave him. However his living conditions werent great. His chain was so short and so heavy. It was more like a towing chain. His shelter was a shed...(like a wooden storage shed). We filled this with lots of straw and left some treats behind in his bowl. Even though the dog didnt chew anything up or potty in the house...he still had to be chained outside. When we offered assistance to help fix the holes in the fence the woman said that it wouldnt do any good, he would just jump it.

The second stop happened to be...Right next door! They had an all white female pit bull mix. He name was Diamond (the white dog below). She was sooo pretty. Her shelter was a make shift house...her owner said that they were getting a new dog house soon?? She also was on a very short chain that was tangled in tree branches and debris. The chain was also wrapped directly around her next rather than hooked to a collar. They said that she would chew through her collars. We gave her lots of straw and some rawhides to chew on. She was just spayed the other day...one good thing.

Our next stop was for a dog that was penned in a dog kennel covered in mud. When we got there, sure enough he was living in muck. It was so thick and slippery he could hardly walk around. Her name was Angel and she has lived in the pen for 5 years. The woman let her out and she zoomed out, running circles all around us and the yard. She didnt even have to be leashed when she was out of the dog pen. We were able to completely cover the muddy floor up with straw and put some straw in her dog house. We also left her with a couple treats. We did offer FREE fencing...but she turned it down...imagine that.

Diamond

Angel