Is it OK to have a dog tied to their doghouse?

That situation is so wrong. I am disappointed that you're not getting any help from anybody. It must be just awful to watch it day in and day out, but I'd be persistent and call again. The rules regarding cruelty can be odd as long as they have food, water, shelter, blah, blah, blah......I question the socialization. Somehow those laws NEED to be included. It's a heartbreaker, but you're trying to help.

First of all You're absolutley NOT overreaccting if you suspect animal cruelty call it in please good for you! and i'm the same way with my dog ( he's super spoiled and is always in the house):):) i don't think that is exceptable at all i actually called in a case of the same kind of things and the neighbor of them who happens to be my cousin said that the dogs are still in the yard and nothing really changed, it's a shame that they don't really care and thats their job, but yeah you definantly did the right thing Im pround of you!!!!

Ok, if you inderstand a dog, then you see how cruel this is. The reason this is cruel, is because previously stated, dogs are social animals. They live in packs. Even if you only have one dog, he sees you the human as part of the pack regardless of species.Other animals can be completely solitary and this lifestyle would not be considered cruel, but for a dog it is. I don't want to upset anyone but people who tie their dogs up outside (yes, even when they have food, water and shelter)are either uneducated about how much damage this does to the psychology of the dog's mind, or they are jerks and don't care.

I feel I really understand dogs (and even though I have many different species of pets, I understand the dogs the most). I rarely ever blame a dog for a dog attack. I am not saying that some dogs aren't dangerous, merely that most people do not understand the language of the dog and therefore miss warning signs the dog is trying to convey.

I feel dogs that are tied constantly are either very submissive animals who lead a pretty crummy life, or are ticking timebombs before something eventually sets them off to attack (mostly due to lack of socialization).

There is no law stating you must own a dog. Having one tied outside is probably looked upon as a chore for these people (having to feed them, etc.) and they don't really know or love these animals. So I ask, whats the point of having a dog, if you are just going to leave it outside and ignore it?

you are not overreacting! it is wrong ... dogs are pack animals seperating them from their packs is a form of punishment. a dog chained out doesn't know what it did to basically be excommunicated from the family. unfortunatly for those of us who understand that there are even more who don't ... a lot of the suggestions made so far are great! and also consider working with you humane society to educate your community about this issue and many ohters.

I'd suggest you check the North Carolina Statutes (laws), the City of Charlotte Zoning Regulations, etc. http://www.google.com is a great place to start. If there are laws on the books relating to this issue in your state, city or county, use them for all they're worth!

One other thought, when taking photographs: Don't trespass in order to get the photos or you may be setting yourself up for prosecution by the dog's "owner."

Having a friend that's a dog warden, I've heard him say on numerous occasions that what the public perceives may not be the situation. Do you SEE the dog chained on a 5-foot rope (how do you know it's five feet long?) 24/7? If you see the dog every day at certain times, but don't KNOW about other times, it's possible that the dog is spending time inside with its owner(s). Imagine how embarrassing that is for animal control, a dog warden, etc., to have someone call them out to a residence, only to learn that what they were told by the concerned citizen, isn't true. I'm just saying, be SURE of your concern and its severity and use the law (but don't break the law).