The Anti-Chain Division of the Anti-Dog Fighting Campaign Worldwide Organization has been attempting to propose a bill to keep dogs from being chained up in Kern County and California.

Jennifer Kanady, the director of the Division, is working with rescues in the area, such as the Bakersfield Boxers and Bullies.

According to Kanady, animal control in Kern County is very slow in responding to dogs being chained up, and when they arrive they can’t do anything about it because there is no law against it.

“Particularly in the Kern County area there is dog-fighting and dogs being left in chains even though we have legislation with limitations, but there is just a lot of gray areas,” said Kanady.

The Anti-Chain Division is looking to give awareness of these issues in order for them to be stopped.

“There is a dog in Rosamond that is on chain 24 hours and is being abused a lot. The owner has had former troubles with the law. And animal control just comes out and then they leave,” according to Kanady.

Kanady plans on having a conference soon with all the rescues in Kern County to try solving this epidemic.

“There are just a lot of problems, and the animals are suffering,” said Kanady.

The organization had a legislative bill made by Senator Scott Weiner’s office, but it expired because no one sponsored the bill, so it wasn’t carried through the legislative process.

The bill would have updated health and safety codes and add amendments to penal codes like “no unattended tethering.”

“This way people can’t just chain up their dog and just leave them there indefinitely,” said Kanady.

It will also cover the conditions of when dogs are left outside.

The current codes do not have requirements about extreme temperature, enclosures, or how the food and water are left for animals.

If the bill is sponsored and then approved, animal control would have to follow the laws and help the chronic problem these dogs are facing.

California currently has a 3-hour tether law and according to Kanady, it is unreasonable for a law officer to waste tax dollars sitting for that amounted time to see if the dog is chained the entire time.

The Anti-Dog Fighting Campaign is available at all times as a public service and promotes awareness and battles for the well-being of mistreated dogs.