Dogs Deserve Better

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - Earlier this year Newschannel 3 found dogs left chained, sitting outside in the freezing cold. They were without food or water 24 Hours a day 7 Days a week.

Now Newschannel 3 has learned of a large number of dogs living in dire situations are falling through the cracks.

A number of dogs have already been rescued and some are in the process of being rescued. But there's another group of dogs that haven't been rescued because there's no where to put them. There options are life on a chain or euthanasia.

Sadie, one of a pair of beagles, was rescued after our last story aired.

"I adopted one as the foster mom, I fell in love with her," said Patricia Aldering of Dog's Deserve Better.

She's also the one who went door to door with us in single degree temperatures last winter to rescue dogs from life on a chain. Since then Aldering says the phone lines have been busy.

"Many of those people were asking for help for their chained dogs. Many of those people realized they had gotten in over their heads and their dogs deserved better than being on a chain," said Aldering.

One of those people is Christine Gates from Covert, Michigan. She saw our story and contacted Dogs Deserve Better.

"The two that I sent with them I thought would be better off in a home rather than out on the chains that I have," said Gates.

But she still has at least five dogs on chains 24/7 and several more in the house. She says she cares for them and can't part with them. But she sent us to a neighbor in need of help.

Her neighbor asked not to be identified. She has no less than 12 dogs. She says people keep dumping them on her property.

"Because were in the middle of nowhere and they just think that's acceptable," she said.

Most of the dogs are chained all day long year round.

"I already have 4 in the house I can't do anymore in the house," said the dog owner.

The dogs have worn away the grass around where they're bound. But she's afraid to give them up.

"I didn't want to take them to the pound and have them put to sleep," she said.

But despite how much she cares for them. She can't afford them and she's looking for help.

"I'm hoping they all can find good homes. They deserve better than where they are," said the dog owner.

She's working with Dog's Deserve Better to get these animals adopted. If you would like to adopt one go to www.dogsdeservebetter.com.