Unchained: Bolt gets a new fence, a new attitude, and a whole new life!

Bolt, Photo courtesy Dallas Animal Advocates

Dallas Animal Advocates took the first step toward making life better for tethered dogs this past Saturday when they kicked off their new fence program by helping a little dog named Bolt and his very grateful family.

Bolt was always a good dog, but he was smart and he was curious, and from time to time he'd jump over, or dig under, his family's chain link fence. Luckily Bolt was never hurt during his adventures, but his family was cited several times by animal services for violating local leash laws. Unable to afford to replace their chain link fence with a taller, more secure fence, they resorted to tethering Bolt. But in 2008, the City of Dallas passed a law that makes it illegal to chain or tether a dog. Something had to give or the family would lose Bolt.

That's when Dallas Animal Advocates stepped in. They counseled the family about the new law and about the psychological damage tethering a dog can cause. They met and assessed Bolt and explained to the family what they needed to do to properly care for Bolt. After that the decision was easy - Bolt would be the first beneficiary of Dallas Animal Advocates new fence program.

First, the family had to get Bolt neutered and vaccinated. So Dallas Animal Advocates hooked Bolt's family up with the Metroplex Animal Coalition. MAC provided a free neuter surgery and vaccinations for Bolt as part of a program aimed at low-income families in underserved areas of Dallas. Once that was taken care of, the volunteers were scheduled and the materials were purchased. And this past Saturday, with help from Bolt's family, a half dozen volunteers attached over 300 feet of 4' welded wire to the top of the existing chain link fence, installed a system of stakes and rebar along the bottom of the fence to keep Bolt from digging out, reinforced the weakest areas of the fence, and adjusted and heightened the gates. Bolt got a new dog house, new toys, and even a bath. And then, with the appropriate fanfare, the tether was removed and Bolt was free.

According to Susan Kilgore, President of Dallas Animal Advocates, "Bolt's attitude and demeanor changed dramatically as the project progressed. When we first met Bolt he was submissive and timid, but gentle and grateful for attention. By Saturday afternoon, he was a new dog with a new attitude ready to start a new life happy, healthy, and free."

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