visual for proposal

Why would you do this to Man’s Best Friend?

TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A CHANGE! CONTACT MARICOPA ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL TO REPORT ANIMAL ABUSE. REPORTS MAY BE MADE ANONYMOUSLY.







“Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has stated that tethered dogs are 2.8 times more likely to bite than non-tethered dogs” (unchain your dog).
“Victims of such dog attacks are often children who are unaware of the chained dog’s presence until it is too late” (The Humane Society of The United States).
Statistically, chained dogs are more dangerous than free-running packs of dogs. (unchain your dog)
When a tethered dog is able to escape and wanders the neighborhood, people are in jeopardy of being attacked and bitten.
Tethered dogs are usually neglected and usually not vaccinated, which
presents the threat of disease if the dog bites a person (unchain your dog).
“Tethered dogs are easy targets for thieves looking to steal animals to sale to research institutions or to be used as fodder for organized animal fights” (The Humane Society of The United States).


Unchain your Dog 29 March 2007

“The Facts about Chaining or Tethering Dogs” The Humane Society of The United States 29 March 2007


Take Care of Your Dog
Dogs are pack animals that need to exercise and socialize. Keeping dogs tethered will result in aggressive and dangerous behavior. Dogs that are tethered are in danger of hurting themselves by being strangled on their own tether.
Let your dog be a part of the family and allow them inside. It’s the best place for a dog to be, especially during extreme weather conditions. If you cannot keep your dogs indoors, provide them with appropriate shelter and an inexpensive pulley system that will allow for freedom of movement and safe exercise.






Vote for a new ordinance that makes it illegal to tether a dog to a stationary object!

Vote YES on the anti-tether ordinance! Together we can fight animal abuse. It will be illegal to keep a dog tethered. However, a dog may be restrained by a trolley system (cable run). The trolley kits can be purchased at local pet stores. If a dog is found to be tethered, the owner will have 15 days to unchain it.
The following conditions must be met:
The lead must be attached to a properly fitting dog collar.
The lead must be strong enough to contain the dog according to size.
The cable run must be at least 15 feet long.
The trolley system must be able to keep the dog in your property and constructed to prevent the dog from getting tangled with other objects.
The trolley system must allow the dog access to water, food and proper shelter as well as enough room to exercise.
Doghouses must be structurally sound, waterproof and windproof. They must protect dogs from temperature extremes. The shelter must provide proper ventilation and drainage.
The dog’s shelter and other accessible areas must minimize the risk of the dog contracting diseases such as parasites.
The dog must be provided with clean, fresh water in a receptacle that won’t tip over, and provided with enough food to maintain
adequate nutrition.

Anti-Tethering Proposal

Anti-Tethering Proposal
The purpose for this proposal is to allow for and provide a healthy environment to dogs, their owners and the community. This proposal will bring help to those dogs that don’t have a voice for themselves; dogs currently in distress from being tethered by their owners or neglected. Dog owners might simply be ignorant about the fact that tethering a dog is harmful to the animal. It also poses a risk to the owner’s family and to the community. In this document I will explain how implementing a new ordinance against tethering dogs will be beneficial to both the animal and to humans. As a dog owner and avid animal advocate supporter, I will explain how tethering a dog is not only heartless, but also how it is a health hazard and a danger to our communities.
At this time, Maricopa County does not have any anti-tethering laws. Therefore, any canine breed can be tied with any type of rope or chain attached to a fixed object such as a fence or tree for an unlimited period of time. Tethered dogs usually live in solitude and are not allowed to socialize with other dogs or humans. This type of harsh treatment does not currently fall under any animal abuse law in this county. Many of these dogs are tethered because the owners do not want to be bothered with them, which is actually considered neglect. Tethering a dog is cruel, and poses a threat to the animal. According to many animal advocates such as “Helping Animals.com” who are partners with PETA, “Many communities across America and beyond have learned the hard way that chaining dogs is dangerous to the public, especially to children.”
Several reports indicate that chained dogs are much more likely to become aggressive. Many dog bites or attacks come from dogs that were chained or tethered who then managed to escape and become free. “When a chained dog feels threatened, his “fight or flight” instinct kicks in. Since he can’t flee, he feels forced to fight” (Unchain Your Dog). There is great danger for children especially who enter the yard of a restrained dog. Many children have been fatally attacked or seriously injured by tethered dogs. For example, “A study published in the September 15, 2000, issue of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association reported that 17% of dogs involved in fatal attacks on humans between 1979 and 1998 were restrained on their owners’ property at the time of the attack. Tragically, the victims of such attacks are often children who are unaware of the chained dog’s presence until it is too late” (The Humane Society of the United States).
Another fact about a tethered dog is that the animal can easily injure or even kill itself from choking or accidental hanging. “Chained dogs can get hung over fences and off decks, causing death” (Unchain Your Dog). Another type of injury can result from the chain rubbing around the animal’s neck; it can become embedded and infect the skin. “In many cases, the necks of chained dogs become raw and covered with sores, the result of improperly fitted collars and the dogs’ constant yanking and straining to escape confinement” (Humane Society of The United States).
A large number of chained dogs are being neglected and also live in unhealthy environments that can result with the dogs acquiring diseases that can be transferred to humans. “Many chained dogs live in unhealthy, trashy surroundings that are infested with parasites” (Unchain Your Dog). This creates a public health problem as well as an animal rights issue.
Ironically, until about 20 years ago, many communities had public safety statutes requiring that dogs be kept fenced or tethered. Many humane societies promoted tethering as a second-best alternative to fencing, as part of the effort to discourage pet owners from letting animals roam freely. However, since that time the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have reported that tethered dogs are much more likely to bite than unchained dogs. Tethering tends to increase dogs' territoriality and likelihood of delivering a reactive bite, since a tied dog cannot run away from a perceived threat. Also, the tether can trip the attack victim, enabling the dog to maul a person who otherwise might escape unharmed (Dogs Deserve Better).
Arizona currently has exemplary animal cruelty laws that are enforced to deter people from animal cruelty. “Animal cruelty is a serous issue. It is illegal to beat, torment, hurt, or otherwise harm any animal in any manner” (Maricopa.gov). Currently there is no tethering ordinance in place. Adopting the existing ordinances from either Tucson, Arizona or Little Rock, Arkansas would provide a more compassionate, beneficial way for a dog owner to care for a pet. The Tucson law states that “Tucson’s ordinance does not apply solely to dogs. A person has thirty days once he or she is found chaining an animal to provide other means of confinement, as long as other conditions of confinement and care are being met” (Unchain Your Dog). The Little Rock law states “Included in this ordinance is a ban on fixed-point chaining. Little Rock residents can no longer chain a dog to a tree or other stationary object. The minimum requirement for chaining is to install a trolley system that meets certain specifications. The trolley must be built to allow access to the maximum available exercise area” (Unchain Your Dog).
My proposal marries these two existing ordinances, and allows a tethered dog to have a greater chance to lead a fuller, healthier, happier life. Instead of giving the option of 30 days as stated in the Tucson law, Maricopa County will allow the dog owner a maximum of 15 days to either take the dog inside the home or build a trolley system with the appropriate shelter as it is specified in Little Rock’s law. “Doghouses must be structurally sound, waterproof, and windproof, and must protect the dog from temperature extremes” (Unchain Your Dog). Many owners who have their dogs outside tethered on chains frequently use them as guard dogs. However, dogs that are tethered do not make the best guard dogs. “Chained dogs become aggressive, not protective. An aggressive dog will attack anyone: the child next door, the meter reader, the mailman. The way to raise a protective dog, who knows how to distinguish friend from foe, is to socialize the dog and bring him inside with the family” (Unchain Your Dog). If there is an intruder, a chained dog won’t be able to do anything but bark.
If owners have multiple chained dogs in their property, their best bet is to take the dogs inside their homes or have a fence built if one is not present. If the dog is able to jump the fence, installing a fence extension or adding a slick reed to the fence will make it difficult for the dog to climb. If the dog is a digger, adding cement blocks or chicken wire lined at the bottom of the fence is effective. In my experience, this has worked like a charm.
There are numerous supporting allies such as the Humane Society of Arizona, Maricopa Animal Care and Control, Animal Welfare League, local veterinarians, dog trainers and other wildlife and environmental groups and advocates. We plan obtain the support of these groups, and also to introduce the ordinance to a well-known sponsor like our current Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who is a big animal welfare supporter. As soon as the ordinance has a sponsor, we will start lobbying by providing information packets to other commissioners. We will send emails and letters, and make phone calls to commissioners to vote for this ordinance. We will also try to enlist the support of other elected officials. We will ask national organizations such as PETA and the ASPCA to write letters about the cause. We plan to provide information packets and brochures that can be handed out at pet stores and veterinary clinics to spread the word. In addition, we will join animal welfare advocates like Dogs Deserve Better and start branches in local communities to promote awareness. We will follow the advice on their Website: “Help with community awareness by hanging posters, showing the chained dog video, wearing one of our colorful T-shirts, or applying a sticker or magnet to your window/car to educate and provoke though in those around you” (Dogs Deserve Better). We will set up accounts for private donations at the local vets’ offices, local shelters and pet stores. These funds will be used to print more posters and flyers, as well as brochures with information about the tethering problem and our proposed solution. We will engage a volunteer work force to put up the posters and to pass the brochures throughout the community. We will also approach the local electricity and gas companies to enlist their support. We hope they will agree to back the cause and add a brochure or flyer with each customer’s bill.
Some individuals will fear the proposed solution to introduce an anti-tethering ordinance and will try to retaliate or keep it from happening. There has been a history of farmers believing too much power is given to animal rights activists. They have argued that this type of ordinance may make animal rights equal to human rights, and that the goal of animal activists is to go after livestock farmers. “If a dog being tethered all its life is against the law, then should keeping a chicken in a coop all its life be considered illegal also?” Extreme statements such as this could harm the cause (O’Neill).
Ontario, Canada did pass an anti-chaining law and farmers reacted negatively to the new regulation. Some ranching and farm lobbyists opposed the bill, noting that it could be interpreted to restrict tethering or penning of cattle. Farmers feared that their farms and livestock could be in jeopardy from the new law.
However, the head of the SPCA in Ontario pointed out that this law will not affect farmers as is it accepted by society. “There is no consensus in society to apply “psychological abuse” standards to cattle and chickens; farmers have nothing to worry about” (O’Neill). Therefore, it should be clear to farmers in this county that this law will not negatively affect their business.
Another group that promotes the tethering of dogs is the Dog Federation of New York. Mahlon Goer, a founding member of the foundation, states that “Tethering is as good a way of confining your dog as any other,” and that anti-tethering laws discriminate against responsible dog owners of limited financial means. She believes that if anti-tethering measures become law, people who can’t afford to buy or build a fence for their yard will have to get rid of their pets. “This law would cause people to relinquish their dogs when they can’t comply” (Dogster).
There have been great success stories for those communities that have implemented an ordinance against tethering dogs. One of these stories comes from the nearby city of Tucson that has successfully passed such an ordinance. Another example is that of Greater Nashville Animal Welfare (GNAW), a non-profit organization that was able to pass an anti tethering law and whose mission is to raise awareness about the dangers of chaining dogs. “With the success of this proposed ordinance, we will be able to educate the public and avoid attacks from psychologically disturbed dogs that have been tethered. The dogs will live in a more humane environment which will be beneficial to all of us including the proper treatment to our pet, the safety of our children and a happy owner” (GNAW). Their goal was to educate Nashville area dog owners about the dangers of tethering dogs to stationary objects for long periods of time to raise community awareness and educate the community about the humane treatment of animals. They have successfully accomplished this.
I once rescued a tethered dog from a neighbor’s yard. Her name was Daisy. Daisy lived the early part of her life tied to a tree without any shelter. Whether it rained or shined, if it was hot or cold, Daisy was always there. Her diet consisted of table food scraps set on the ground; water was given to her in an old bucket or she was sprayed down with the garden hose by her owner as a way to hydrate her. Daisy was not a friendly dog, and was aggressive to anyone who came near. I tried to interact with her from the other side of the fence. As time went by, she finally was able to trust me. Fed up with the situation, I walked over to my neighbor’s house and asked her if I could have her dog. Without hesitation, she agreed!
I changed Daisy’s name to Nina. Nina is now a happy indoor dog. She has taken great strides in becoming a more social dog and has learned to interact well with humans. She is still frightened by a hose, but is now healthy and happy. She is a great asset to my family. There are many dogs like Nina in our communities who need our help.
The Animal Law Coalition states that dogs, in particular, are social animals. Dogs are pack animals and the human family is their pack. “Chaining or tethering and crating or caging dogs away from the family isolates them and tends to make them frustrated, intensely bored, neurotic and aggressive.” The ASPCA advises setting a good example for others. “If you have pets, be sure to always show them the love and good care that they deserve.” Ensure a tether-free environment and allow your dog to live a vigorous, happy, healthy and safe life.



Works Cited
O’Neill, Terry. “I bark, Therefore I am” News Magazine Alberta Edition EBSCOhost 1 April 2002. Gateway Community Lib. 29 March 2007



“Animal Cruelty” Maricopa Animal Care and Control 25 March 2007



“Anti-Chaining Laws” Unchain your Dog 29 March 2007



Dogs Deserve Better 29 March 2007


Greater Nashville Animal Welfare 29 March 2007




“New Yorkers Protest To Continue Be Able To Tether Their Dog” Dogster.com 10 April 2007, 29 March 2007



“The Cruel, Dangerous Practice of Dog Chaining” People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, 29 March 2007




“The Facts about Chaining or Tethering Dogs” The Humane Society of The United States 29 March 2007

rationale and annotated bibliography

Rationale
The rationale behind my annotated bibliography started because of my involvement with dogs. I am a proud owner of nine dogs and care for them deeply. If I suspect that a dog is being neglected or abused, I take action by calling the Maricopa Animal Care and Control Abuse Hotline to report it. I ask them to investigate the situation, and for the most part I have been successful and have seen some of these neglected animals saved by the shelter. However, on one occasion I called regarding two small dogs that were tied up in the front yard of a house. I had noticed that they were tethered 24 hours a day, seven days a week! To my amazement and horror, I was informed that Arizona has no tethering laws. There was nothing I could do to save these animals from enduring such painful and harsh conditions. Therefore, it was easy for me to choose my topic. I am researching the multiple problems caused by chaining dogs and exploring what can be done to introduce and implement anti-tethering laws in Phoenix. If this is not possible, then I will investigate potential ways to publicize information for pet owners regarding how to make life safer and happier for dogs that are tethered.
I began my research by looking into the current animal cruelty laws in the state of Arizona, but quickly hit a dead end because there wasn’t much information on this particular topic. I kept coming across the same data about the current anti-cruelty laws and definitions of abuse, and basically nothing else. I then had to narrow down my subject and decided to concentrate on tethering laws for dogs and the states that currently enforce these laws.
My annotated bibliography consists of information gathered from well-known animal rights organizations such as the ASPCA, PETA, and The Humane Society of the United States. These sites list a great deal of information on animal cruelty, specific laws state-by-state, and how the public can become involved and proactive about the welfare and comfort of dogs. Surprisingly, my main source of information, and the most useful to me, came from a couple of sites that I had never even heard of, such as “Unchain Your Dog” and “Dogs Deserve Better.” These sites were created by animal rights advocates who have been successful in passing anti-chaining laws in their own states. For the most part, most of the information gathered is a little repetitive, but there are some differentiating factors that will be beneficial during the upcoming proposal assignment. I was not able to find any suitable books on the subject, but did discover a few relevant magazine articles. The Internet was my main source of information.
I have set up my annotated bibliography in alphabetical order since all sources listed are relevant and important to the anti-tethering cause, and they all contain some data that will be useful. As of yet, I have not come to a preliminary conclusion about how to introduce, recommend and implement an anti-tethering law in Arizona, but feel that I have located and gathered the right tools, data and information to begin the proposal assignment.







Annotated Bibliography
O’Neill, Terry. “I bark, Therefore I am” News Magazine Alberta Edition EBSCOhost 1 April 2002. Gateway Community Lib. 29 March 2007

This is an article written about a case in Canada regarding a Rottweiler who suffered from emotional problems like aggressive and anti-social behavior due to spending the first eleven months of her young life tethered to a ten-foot chain. The ASPCA apprehended the dog on grounds of “psychological abuse” and recommended charges against her owners. Under a new provincial law and the future toughened animal cruelty sections of the criminal code of Canada, there is an amendment that states animals must no longer be treated as property. The article focuses on the opposition of ranchers who fear and oppose the amendment which could lead to private lawsuits or criminal prosecutions. This article is a great credible source as it gives factual information on a case that involves owners being held responsible for the psychological abuse of their dog, the consequences of such behavior, and opposition to this amendment.

“Animal Cruelty” Maricopa Animal Care and Control 25 March 2007


The Maricopa Care and Control site offers a great deal of information to the public about a wide range of topics regarding animal care and animal welfare. This governmental organization provides information ranging from animal care and behavior to community outreach and education programs. Funded by donations and licensing fees, it offers pet owners information about the proper licensing and vaccinations for their animals. The Maricopa Animal Care and Control site also provides information about their adoption services, lost and found pets, as well as current animal cruelty laws. It provides a link to the Arizona State Legislature site that describes the laws and defines what constitutes cruelty to animals. This source will be helpful with my proposal as it states all the current laws and applicable definitions that are in effect in the state of Arizona.
“Anti-Chaining Laws” Unchain your Dog 29 March 2007
Unchain your Dog is an independent organization created by a couple from Little
Rock, Arkansas. This couple has successfully been able to lobby for a new city
law and they have become advocates on behalf of chained dogs everywhere. The site concentrates on information pertaining to chained dogs and ways to change that situation. It offers advice on ways to talk to dog owners who have their dogs chained and explains how anyone who is concerned can potentially help by educating a dog owner. The site also offers information on how to improve laws and pass anti-chaining laws. Unchain your Dog gives tips on how to build fences and install a trolley system for dogs to allow for more freedom of movement. The site also has downloadable brochures that can be given to owners of chained dogs, which include such topics as ways to improve a dog’s life, behavior and housetraining and guard dog information. This will be an important source in my research as the advocates of this site have been successful in passing anti-chaining laws in their community. They offer vast information to potential advocates. I also find the downloadable brochures and slide shows to be very helpful, since they are accessible to the public and provide awareness of the problem.
Dogs Deserve Better 29 March 2007

Dogs Deserve Better is a nonprofit organization founded by Tammy Grimes,
dedicated specifically to being an advocate for chained dogs in our own
communities. This site is filled with great information regarding how chaining dogs affects not only the animals themselves, but is also causing numerous deaths of children throughout the country. Chained dogs, unsocialized with humans, can become territorial and violent. This site offers information on how to volunteer, or to start a new branch of Dogs Deserve Better. It gives pointers on how to approach dog owners who have their pets chained and shares information about how to improve life for four-legged companions. The Dogs Deserve Better site also supplies information on which states are currently working on anti-chaining legislation and provides a template of a letter the public can send out to state representatives and senators. It gives other advice on how to get laws opposing chaining passed. Julie Lewin, President of Animal Advocacy Connecticut and founder of National Institute for Animal Advocacy, serves as advisor to Dogs Deserve Better and offers to come to organization or community events for training seminars. She recently lobbied for and got the first state law prohibiting continuous chaining of dogs in Connecticut. This source, although not very well-known, is very credible and shares important information that has been gathered and used in passing anti-chaining laws.
“EAMT™/Animal Rescue” Arizona Humane Society, 30 March 2006. 29 March <2007http://www.azhumane.org/artimgr/publish/article_500.shtml>
The Arizona Humane Society, founded in 1957, is the largest nonprofit animal
welfare and protection agency in the state of Arizona. It is a private, nonprofit
organization funded by donations and does not receive any government funding. This organization started with the goal of placing unwanted or abandoned animals into new homes. In 2002, the Humane Society launched an Emergency Animal Medical Technician program. The program consists of a fleet of ambulances to provide life-saving medical treatment to injured, sick and abused animals in the field. There is no other program like it in the state of Arizona. The Humane Society is a credible source that has been helping animals for many years. They offer other types of resources to pet owners as well, such as low-cost vaccinations and low-cost spay and neuter clinics. This is a helpful site that offers numerous low-cost resources to pet owners. However, it did lack information as far informing the public of what constitutes animal abuse.
“Fight Cruelty” The American Society For The Prevention of Cruelty To Animals 25 March 2007


The ASPCA is an organization that has been in existence since 1866, and is the

first humane society in the Western Hemisphere. This organization was formed to protect animals from injustices and inhumane treatment. The ASPCA originated in New York City, but provides information against animal cruelty in every state in the country. The ASPCA has templates available that contain letters with information regarding lobbying for animals and current proposed acts against animal cruelty, as well as federal action alerts by state. The public can use this information to write to their respective representatives and senators urging their support. The site also provides resources that list shelters across the country. This organization will be a good source for my research as it provides the “how-to” introduction and lobbies for the cause of anti-tethering laws in Phoenix, Arizona.
Greater Nashville Animal Welfare 29 March 2007

The Greater Nashville Animal Welfare (GNAW) is an organization that helps
educate Nashville area dog owners about the dangers of tethering dogs and raises community awareness while educating the public about humane treatment of animals. The GNAW was founded in 2003 to educate dog owners about dangers of chaining their dogs. GNAW also provides statistics from the Nashville police department regarding fatal attacks caused by chained dogs as well as the percentage of complaints about chained dogs barking. GNAW lists the current laws that protect animals and the latest bills passed to making tethering safer. The information the GNAW site offered was minimal, but it will play a key role in the proposal assignment since GNAW was indeed able to make life safer and happier for dogs who are tethered.
“Programs and Campaigns” Animal Defense League of Arizona, 29 March 2007


The Animal Defense League of Arizona’s mission is to protect and defend Arizona’s animals. ADLA is a Phoenix-based, state-wide nonprofit organization that works to protect Arizona’s animals with approaches such as public education and awareness, research and investigation and reform to insure the criminal prosecution of animal abuse cases. Some of the programs and campaigns include wildlife protection, as well as a spay and neuter hotline that has been in effect since 1998, intended to help put an end to the dog and cat overpopulation crisis in Arizona. ADLA also follows cases through the courts in Arizona that pertain to animal abuse. They follow bills through state legislature and inform advocates when to contact their legislators. Although this source is quite credible, it provides only a small amount of information regarding animal cruelty. What I did find helpful for my proposal assignment is that ADLA offers to the public a way to sign up to their newswire and be able to receive email action alerts.

“The Cruel, Dangerous Practice of Dog Chaining” People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, 29 March 2007


People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is the world’s largest animal rights organization, founded in 1980. PETA works through pubic education, cruelty investigations, research, animal rescue, legislation, celebrity involvement and protest campaigns. Funded mainly by donations and merchandise sales, PETA has accomplished vast, long-term-term changes that improve the quality of an animal’s life. In the section for helping animals, the site includes information on the dangers of chaining dogs. They also provide summaries on chained-dog attacks as well as current legislation on restraining dogs. This section also offers helpful links to brochures, as well as links to a lobbying for change fact sheet and an Overview of the Legislative Process fact sheet. All this information will be very helpful; the information provided will give me good guidelines on the proposal assignment as PETA is a credible and successful worldwide organization.
“The Facts about Chaining or Tethering Dogs” The Humane Society of The United States 29 March 2007


The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is the nation's largest animal

protection organization. It is a non-profit association based in Washington, D.C.
The HSUS protects all animals through legislation, litigation, investigation, education, advocacy and field work. This site describes in detail about what is meant by “chaining” dogs, as well as information about the behavioral problems caused by tethering them. It also contains information about how tying and restraining dogs can pose a danger to humans. It explains that commonly tethered dogs do not receive sufficient care or affection, which can lead to neurotic behavior. This will be an important resource to the future proposal assignment, as it lists facts about questions that are frequently asked regarding the multiple problems caused by the tethering of dogs.

Working on an annotated bibliography

This is the first time I have ever worked on an annotated bibliography. It has become quite a challenge as the topic that I originally had chosen has become problematic. One of the challenges that I'm currently going through, is that I am not finding enough information on my topic. I have come to the conclusion that my topic is too broad and I must narrow it down in order to find the information I need. The original topic I had chosen was improving the standards of animal cruelty laws in the state of arizona. Since this subject was too broad and could not find the information that I needed. I decided to research about tethering laws that have been implemented in some states. I think this could be a good subject for the future proposal assignment, as AZ does recognize tethering laws at the time.

Working on an annotated bibliography

This is the first time doing an annotated bibliography. It has become quite a challenge as the topic that I have chosen is not an easy one. One of the challenges that I am not finding enough information on my topic. I have come to the conclusion that my subject is too broad and I must narrow it in order to find the information I need. The original topic was improving the standards of animal cruelty in the state of arizona. Since this subject was too broad, I have chosen to research about tethering laws that have been implemented in some states. I think this could be a good subject for the future proposal assignment, as AZ does recognize tethering laws at the time.

Argumentative Evaluation Essay

As a woman in my 30’s, I’ve been interested in the world of fashion and have admired supermodels ever since my early childhood. In the early 80’s, I began my infatuation with the images in fashion magazines. I wanted that “perfection,” that slender statuesque like figure that was implanted in my head each time I turned the pages of magazines like Vogue, Seventeen, and Cosmo. Growing up as a child and into my early twenties, I was in fact in beauty pageants and countless fashion shows. I was encouraged to look a certain way in order to obtain work and to be accepted by my counterparts in the fashion industry. I can remember back in the seventh grade, my teacher asked me why I never ate lunch at school and I simply told her that I wasn’t hungry. What I was hiding from everyone was the fact that I had a fear of gaining weight and actually felt guilty and embarrassed to be seen eating. I was a victim of an eating disorder caused by the constant pressure to be thin.

There are multiple types of eating disorders that affect girls, women, boys and men alike. According to the National Eating Disorders Association an “eating disorder such as anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder include extreme emotions, attitudes, and behaviors surrounding weight and food issues”(Anorexia). The many health consequences that go along with each eating disorder vary, but they all have potential life threatening conditions that should be treated with professional help. For instance, Anorexia Nervosa is an eating disorder caused by starvation for long periods at a time. People who suffer from this eating disorder refuse to eat. This causes the body to have serious consequences such as “abnormally slow heart rate and low blood pressure, which mean that the heart muscle is changing. The risk for heart failure rises as the heart rate and blood pressure levels sink lower and lower. Reduction of bone density (osteoporosis), which results in dry, brittle bones. Severe dehydration, which can result in kidney failure”(Health Consequences).

Many girls and women, myself included, are affected by what we see on television and in fashion magazines. We see images of women with extremely thin bodies and one would have to be hiding under a rock in order to avoid watching these girls being portrayed as beautiful and sexy. “Girls today, very young ones, are bombarded with the message that they need to be super skinny to be sexy, says psychologist Sharon Lamb, co-founder of Packaging Girlhood: Rescuing Our Daughters From Marketer’ Schemes” (Hellmich). Models on the runway are and always have been thin. Lately the models are looking thinner and thinner, to the point that their knee caps look bigger than their thighs. I have repeatedly seen these waif models plastered on ads for many top designers that I’ve worshiped for years. Why are they casting these unhealthy girls to walk the runway? It seems that the culprits are the same designers that we admire, and by purchasing their merchandise, we are requesting such models. “We are minutes away from catastrophe,” said David Bonnouvier, the chief executive of DNA models, which represents many of the top faces in the business. In an interview, Bonnouvier said designers and model bookers were encouraging extreme thinness, so much so that several of the models he represents, when asked about their weight, have refused to seek medical attention for what are probable eating disorders” (Wilson).

As a result for such a demand to be thin in order to get work in the fashion world it is no surprise that girls are fainting during auditions due to lack of nutrition and even dying from complications of eating disorders. A young 21 year old Brazilian model died from an infection caused by anorexia. According to MSNBC, Reuters “Reston weighed only 88 pounds and was about 5 feet 8 inches tall. Doctors consider this weight normal for a 12 year old girl no more than about 5 feet tall.” This issue was given significance after another death a few months back of an Uruguayan model, Luisel Ramos, of heart failure caused by anorexia (MSNBC, Reuters). According to the National Eating Disorder Association, “In the United States, as many as many as 10 million females and 1 million males who are currently fighting a life and death battle with an eating disorder such as anorexia and bulimia. Millions more are struggling with binge eating disorder” (Statistics).

After the deaths of these two young models caused by eating disorders, there are only a few countries that have set guidelines to prevent more deaths. “The outcry over these deaths led to a move in September by government officials in Madrid to ban models with a body-mass index of less than 18 from performing in city-sponsored fashion shows” (Mundell). After Madrid made the first move, Milan and India have followed suit to create similar guidelines. These countries want their models to focus and project an image of beauty and health. Yet not everyone has joined the bandwagon; other countries are not enforcing such guidelines to fashion shows that are taking place. “But in London, whose Fashion Week also gets under way Monday, organizers are shying away from a ban, arguing that ultra-thin doesn’t necessarily mean unhealthy” (Super-Thin Models). In the U.S., the Council of Fashion Designers of America have issued minimal and voluntary measures to create a healthy atmosphere for these models. There is also great pressure from the fashion designers to have extremely thin models to wear their haute couture clothing on their runways. “Karl Lagerfeld has said overweight people need more treatment than underweight ones, and Giorgio Armani has blamed stylists and the media for the fashion industry’s obsession with ultra thin women” (NY Fashionistas). The standards of these great designers are different than for the rest of us. They prioritize their fashion creations first, rather than the health of these extremely thin models. They choose to have super waif models because their garments drape and flow better on a thinner body walking on the runway than a voluptuous curvy body that may alter the look of their garment.

The controversy of super thin models on the runway will continue. It is no surprise that other countries are not joining countries like Spain and Italy in setting guidelines to prevent models from being super thin and falling victim to an eating disorder. After all, there is a huge demand for this “look” and there are millions of dollars behind it. Putting a ban is just putting a band aid on this issue and will most likely fail, as it does not include psychological help for these models. These models will continue to fall under the grasp of an eating disorder. This problem will not only affect models, but ordinary people as well. We look and admire what we see on television, especially with reality shows like The Next Top Model and the huge ads in magazines and billboard ads of the waif model whose clavicle and ribs are protruding through her skin. This is made to look sexy and beautiful. This is the message that is being conveyed through these shows and advertisements. A large percentage of people have fallen victim to this and have a warped body image. The problem is not going to be solved, as long as this look is being requested by the biggest designers in the world. These aspiring supermodels will keep on falling victim to an eating disorder without getting help. A value system should be implemented for designers to maximize the health of these models. Models are fainting and dying because of the current unforgiving system. Designers need to set the model’s health as a top priority and until they do, the deaths of these models will be on their hands.

Works Cited

Helimich, Nancy. “Do Thin Models Wrap Girls’ Body Image?” USA Today, 26 September 2006. 22 February 2007


Mundell, E.J. “Furor Over Anorexic Models Hits U.S. Fashion Week.” Yahoo News, 2 February 2007. 22 February 2007

Wilson, Eric. “When Does Thin Become Too Thin?” New York Times, International Herald Tribune, 21 September 2006. 22 February 2007

“Brazilian Model Dies From Anorexia.” MSNBC, Reuters 7 February 2007. 22 February 2007


“Super-Thin Models: Controversy Grows, Spanish Fashion Show Bans Them; British Counterpart Doesn’t.” CBS News, 18 Sept. 2006. 22 February 2007


“NY Fashionistas Weigh In On Too-Thin Model Flap.” Reuters, 12 Jan 2007. 22 February 2007


“Statistics: Eating Disorders and their Precursors.” National Eating Disorder Association. 22 February 2007


“Anorexia, Bulimia, & Binge Eating Disorder: What Is An Eating Disorder?” National Eating Disorder Association. 22 February 2007


“Health Consequences of Eating Disorders.” National Eating Disorder Association. 22 February 2007

outline peer group

It was very helpful to have peer groups in class to go over each others outlines for our argumentative essay. I received lots of feedback from my peers. I actually had a better Idea on how to set up my paper. I have finished writing my rough draft, but I would like to get some suggestions from my peers to see if my essay has a good flow and if I am getting my point across clearly. I am hoping to gather informative feedback from them to see if I'm actually doing the assignment correctly.