| Bands to play so dogs can go free By SUSAN BROILI, The Herald-Sun DURHAM -- A bunch of local musicians plan to entertain to help free dogs from their chains at a Saturday concert. The event from 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. at Durham Central Park benefits the fence-building project of the Durham-based Coalition to Unchain Dogs. In addition to the lineup of six Durham bands, the event also features a silent auction of dog care products and services as well as prizes for people such as art and gift certificates to restaurants. "We've got a great event planned," Coalition to Unchain Dogs founder and president Amanda Arrington said in a telephone interview earlier this week. "We'd love to raise at least $3,000." Proceeds, including a percentage of pizza sales Saturday, go toward fence-building costs. Formed last year by Arrington, The Coalition to Unchain Dogs is a non-profit, volunteer effort dedicated to improving the welfare of dogs living outdoors on chains in and around Durham. Bonnie Pivacek, who with Matthew Yearout forms the acoustic duo Sequoya, said they'll be playing some songs with chained dogs in mind such as "Satellite" and "Barren the Sea," a modern folk song about the crew aboard the Kursk, a Russian submarine. "We chose these songs because they inspire the need for freedom from different perspectives and situations," Pivacek said in an e-mail. "As animal lovers, we were honored that they asked. Although we don't have dogs, we love them and would be happy to know that we can play a part in making their lives better," Pivacek said. Both she and Yearout had been moved by the stories of dogs the coalition has already freed from chains, Pivacek added. Photographs and stories from the dogs' perspective are posted on the coalition's Web site www.unchaindogs.net Jim Brantley of Durham's Bull City Band said he had been impressed by the creative approach the coalition has taken to solve the problem instead of just talking to people. "All of us have dogs. This is a cause near and dear to our hearts," Brantley said of the benefit. He and his wife consider Lucille, a 105-pound Rottweiler, an important part of their family, he added. Such fundraisers also serve to help raise awareness of the chaining issue, Arrington added. The concert is the first such benefit the coalition has had since it began constructing fences to free dogs from their chains six months ago, Arrington said. So far, coalition volunteers have built 22 fences and freed 36 dogs and have another 30 or so requests to build more fences and need more volunteers to help with the work, Arrington added. All but one of the fences built so far have been in Durham, but requests have come from Chatham, Orange and Wake as well. Building fences serves as a practical way to get dogs off the chains that adversely affect their well-being both physically and mentally and tend to turn them into more aggressive dogs, Arrington said. "I wanted to be out in the community showing people alternatives," Arrington said. The education aspect goes beyond the inhumane practice of chaining and addresses basic responsibilities of dog "guardians." Arrington said she prefers to use "guardians" rather than "owner" to refer to the people who have canines because it implies responsibility rather than ownership of a piece of property. "If dogs are seen as beings with emotions, needs and feelings, maybe they'll be treated differently," Arrington said. Many people chain dogs to serve as guard dogs, but dogs actually become more protective if their people bond with them by spending time with them and ideally keeping them inside the home rather than in the yard, Arrington said. Still, she realizes that everyone won't keep dogs inside. "Not every dog is going to be able to sleep on the couch like mine does," Arrington said. In their Durham home, she and her husband share two big couches with their eight dogs that also have a fenced-in yard for recreation. "Some people just don't know any better," Arrington said of why others chain dogs. The only requirement of dog guardians is that they have their dogs spayed or neutered before the fence is built. The spay and neuter service, aimed at addressing the major overpopulation problem here, is free thanks to Independent Animal Rescue's community program that Arrington directs. So that dogs will have shelter within their fences, the coalition provides free dog houses donated by the community. "We follow up on all these dogs every week or so," Arrington said. The coalition is also pushing for local ordinances that ban chaining. In Orange County, the recommendation to pass a new ordinance has gone to the County Commissioners while in Durham, the recommendation has gone as far as the advisory committee. Currently in North Carolina, New Hanover County and Roanoke Rapids have banned chains. Arrington wants to see a statewide ban and believes the coalition's fence-building will show policymakers that fences are better than chains. Although the event benefits chained dogs, planners request that people do not bring their canines to the concert. "We have a couple of rock bands. A lot of dogs are very fearful of large crowds and loud music," Arrington said. --- WHAT: Concert to benefit Coalition to Unchain Dogs WHEN: Saturday from 5 p.m. until 10:30 p.m. WHERE: Durham Central Park. TICKETS: $10 donation in advance from Web site www.unchaindogs.net; $12 (cash) at the door. ALSO: Food and beverages available from vendors. (No coolers will be allowed). Please do not bring dogs due to the loud music and length of the event. PERFORMANCE LINEUP 5 p.m. to 5:35 p.m. - Sequoya. 5:50 p.m. to 6:25 p.m. - Beloved Binge. 6:40 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. - Jamie Purnell. 7:30 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. - Jon Shain. 8:30 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. - Competent Drummer. 9:30 p.m. to 10:15 p.m. - Bull City. URL for this article: http://www.heraldsun.com/features/54-888383.cfm? © Copyright 2007. All rights reserved. All material on heraldsun.com is copyrighted by The Durham Herald Company and may not be reproduced or redistributed in any medium except as provided in the site's Terms of Use.
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