Tammy Sneath Grimes drove home everyday on the back roads of Blair County and would pass a black lab mix chained to a box.
The dog, formerly named Worthless, was never let off the chain, never allowed to go inside the house, never showed love and affection by his owners or anyone else. Worthless was sentenced to a life of misery and loneliness, chained to his box.
Grimes would drive by the dog every day and think to herself, “Dogs deserve better.”
Hence the name of the non-profit organization, Dogs Deserve Better, she founded in August 2002 to stop the inhumane treatment of dogs chained to boxes.
“We are working to get dogs off chains, out of pens, and into the home and family,” said Grimes. “Locally we’ve helped about a dozen that we know of. We have no way of knowing how many people may do something just from hearing of us. Nationally, it’s even harder to estimate, but we send out a lot of letters, and hope that some of them do some good.”
Soon after Grimes founded Dogs Deserve Better, she was able to rescue Worthless from his chains. She courageously went up to the dog’s owner and asked if she could rescue the dog and that she would pay $50 for him and another dog in the same yard. The owner accepted the offer and made a promise to not chain anymore dogs, which Grimes said he has kept so far.
Worthless, was quickly renamed Bo, and Grimes showed him the love and compassion he deserved.
“I only had Bo for about six months, sadly enough,” she said. “Although, I’m very happy I had him for that time. If I had not gotten up the courage to go ask for him again and he’d died in those chains, I would have been very sad indeed.”
Unfortunately, Grimes made the decision to put Bo to sleep in April of 2003 due to heart failure with possible tumor complications. However, she is grateful for the time they were able to spend together and especially grateful that Bo was her inspiration for Dogs Deserve Better.
The organization founded on Bo’s inspiration is growing. Locally, there are about 15 active volunteers, and an email list of 35. Nationally, Grimes has an email list of approximately 400, and 15 area representatives in different states across the country. Merchandise is also available with virtually all the proceeds benefiting the organization.
Dogs Deserve Better is looking to expand, and has a need for corporate sponsorship, a volunteer events planner, fencing donations, as well as monetary donations. Currently, the organization is planning an annual event for its anniversary in August, Chain Off 2003, and is looking for a venue, bands and other donations for the event. Anyone interested in getting involved or helping can email Grimes at tammy@dogsdeservebetter.com or call her at 941-7447.
“Just because their fathers chained their dogs and their fathers’ fathers chained their dogs, does not make it okay in today’s society,” added Grimes. “Dogs are pack animals, and they long for a place in the family. If you cannot give that to a dog, then please don’t have one.”
