For ten long years, Pancake’s world was no bigger than the length of a chain.
Today, as families across the country celebrate Pancake Day, one small Portuguese dog with a seasonal namesake finds herself at the centre of a growing international campaign – one demanding an end to what campaigners describe as one of the most widespread and overlooked forms of cruelty inflicted on dogs across the globe.
The Unchained campaign, which has helped rescue a number of dogs from lives of permanent tethering, is calling time on continuous chaining: a practice that leaves animals confined to a fixed point, often outdoors, stripped of movement, companionship and any sense of safety. Behind the policy arguments and legal debate lies Pancake’s story – a stark and sobering reminder of what life at the end of a chain really means.
When rescuers, including Eduardo Goncalves from Gosport, Hampshire, founder of the Unchained campaign (pictured below with another rescue dog), finally freed Pancake after a decade of isolation, the full scale of her suffering became heartbreakingly clear. She had endured blistering summers and freezing winters, denied proper shelter, veterinary care and even the simple comfort of human kindness. Although now safe, her recovery is ongoing – her scars both physical and emotional.
According to animal welfare organisations, millions of dogs worldwide are still kept chained, many spending their entire lives confined to a patch of dirt or concrete. Experts warn that the damage goes far beyond neglect. Dogs kept on chains are significantly more likely to develop severe anxiety, fear responses and aggression – creating not only an animal welfare crisis, but a serious public safety issue.
Dr Marc Abraham OBE, vet, author and patron of Unchained, says Pancake’s story is far from unique.
“As a vet, I know just how profoundly cruel and damaging the chaining of dogs can be. Dogs are social, sentient beings who need freedom of movement, mental stimulation, and of course companionship to be physically and emotionally healthy. Chaining denies them all of that, and will often cause lasting psychological trauma, as well as serious medical problems.
“Unchained is campaigning for global change to end this outdated and inhumane practice once and for all. But we also need to look closer to home. The UK prides itself on being a nation of animal lovers, and that means we cannot afford grey areas in the law that allow animal cruelty to be excused or exploited. The rules must be strengthened, made crystal clear, and be enforceable – because no dog should ever be left to suffer at the end of a chain.”
While the Animal Welfare Act 2006 makes it illegal to cause unnecessary suffering, there remains no explicit ban on chaining dogs in the UK, creating legal grey areas that campaigners say allow prolonged tethering to continue with little consequence.
Animal emotional wellbeing expert and Pet Remedy consultant Andrew Hale, who has spent years rehabilitating formerly chained dogs, says the psychological toll can endure long after rescue.
“I was involved in the rehabilitation of a formerly chained dog for five years, and what stays with you is just how deeply damaging the loss of movement is. For dogs, physical safety is bound up with freedom of movement – the ability to find shelter, adjust to their environment, and feel secure.
“When that is taken away, they are left trapped in a constant state of vulnerability. Dogs who have been chained often struggle profoundly with this long after the chain is removed. Psychologically, it’s comparable to putting a child on a permanent naughty step, except there is no explanation, no comfort, and no end.
“One of the most devastating impacts is on what we call a dog’s hedonic budget – their capacity to experience pleasure, freedom and joy. Chaining strips that away entirely, leaving a depleted mood state that is not only damaging, but clearly cruel.”
Pancake is not alone. Sirius was found barely alive in northern Portugal, emaciated and chained to cold concrete with grass just out of reach. Vinnie and Chuck were born to a mother forced to give birth while tethered in a concrete yard, their earliest days spent in a wooden box soaked in filth. All were rescued with Eduardo’s help.
“These dogs survived, but survival is not enough,” says Eduardo Goncalves. “Chaining steals a dog’s dignity, their joy and their sense of safety. Pancake’s story shows why this fight matters. Every rescue strengthens our resolve to end this cruelty at its source – not just treat the damage it leaves behind.”
For more information, visit unchaineddogs.org