As more and more people become aware of the staggering impact of eating animals, millions are choosing to avoid animal products altogether. And the market is responding – in a big way.

While there is clearly forward momentum on this issue, it is important to acknowledge that the species that will mostly benefit from our new awareness and convictions about chaining/tethering is dogs. But what about the other species living their lives confined to a chain? Are we as a society ok with keeping them confined to a chain?

Animals are the most vulnerable beings living in our communities and as a result, it is easy for some people to think they don’t matter or aren’t worth the effort. They don’t speak our language. They can’t call an attorney or advocate for themselves. And they can’t speak up when someone is abusing them.

Chief Judge B. Lynn Winmill did not mince words in his ruling against the law. He wrote, “The State’s logic is perverse…in essence the State says that the more attention and criticism an industry draws, the more the government should protect that industry from negative publicity or other harms. Protecting the private interests of a powerful industry, which produces the public’s food supply, against public scrutiny is not a legitimate government interest.”