Every time I drive the 16 miles from our ranch to my hometown in northern Idaho, I pass dogs who are chained to a tree, a doghouse or just to a stake driven into the ground.

Make no mistake: These aren't the pets of loving, responsible owners who want to make sure they're safe when unsupervised, so they secure them temporarily. These dogs are imprisoned within the chain's radius for their entire lives.

In fact, in the years I've lived here, I've never seen these chained-up dogs run free. Sadly, millions of other pets across this country share their fate.

I seldom catch their gaze -- they tend to seem resigned to their sad fate -- but I always feel sadness for the dogs and frustration at their owners. If these folks knew that chaining a dog all the time can have serious consequences, would they change how they confine their animals? I like to think so.

Experts agree that chaining increases aggression in some dogs. It can also be the primary cause of severe or lethal dog attacks on people.

"Rather than protecting the owner or property, a chained dog is often fearful for itself, particularly poorly socialized dogs, or those with a previous negative experience," says Dr. Rolan Tripp, a PetConnection contributing editor and owner of AnimalBehavior.net. "When tethered and exposed to a potentially threatening stimulus, one thing the dog definitely knows is 'I can't get away.' In that circumstance, a reasonable response might be, 'Therefore I'm going to try to scare you away by growling,' or worse yet, biting."

"I specifically see increased aggression when a dog feels responsible for protecting the owner and that person's belongings," agrees Dr. Myrna Milani, author of several books on animal behavior. "Under those circumstances, restraint of any kind makes it impossible for the dog to freely explore any perceived threat to determine whether it poses any danger or get away from it if it does."

Finally adding to this chorus is Dr. Elizabeth Shull, a board-certified veterinary neurologist.

"In addition to frustration, the constant physical restraint promotes excessive territoriality, which may be manifested as aggression," she says. "These attacks are unnecessary as they are easily preventable by using a secure fence for containment."

The person on the other end of the teeth is often a young child who wandered into the dog's territory, or a delivery person who didn't notice a chained dog until it was too late. A bite is always a tragedy for the victim, but it's often a death sentence for the dog. An avoidable catastrophe for all, in so many cases.

Dogs are social animals. They need to have company to live normal, healthy lives. Most dogs live in a human family, which fills their biological need for companionship.

The worst punishment for people in prison is solitary confinement, while the military uses the silent treatment as a nonviolent but highly effective means of reprimand. But these are only temporary measures, while a dog may be committed to the same punishment for most of its life.

These punishments are only evoked on humans for terrible crimes, but what crimes did these poor dogs commit to deserve such a fate? Think about what happens to a dog's physical being and spirit if he never knows freedom, companionship, play, joy?

If you need to secure your dog, get a big fence. If you need a security system, then install an electronic one. If you want a dog, but aren't willing to love it and consider its needs, get a stuffed one.

Chaining a dog up all the time is no way to treat a thinking, breathing, trusting, loving creature.

Q&A

Little budgies big

on personality

Q: I am thinking about adding a bird to my family and was thinking specifically about a parakeet. What kind of investment will that entail? Are they messy? What kind of cage will I need? -- K.P., via e-mail

A: What we in the United States call a "parakeet" is really a "budgerigar," or budgie. (There are other varieties of parakeets besides budgies, which is why the distinction matters.) Budgies come in many colors and patterns, and two basic body types. The American style of budgie is slender and long compared to the husky, almost bulldog look of the English budgie. The personalities are the same, though.

Budgies are quite common and inexpensive compared to other parrots. Prices will vary, and birds typically can be found for less than $20, with rare colors on the higher side. It's worth paying more for a hand-raised bird, if you can find one, because taming an aviary-bred pet who has never been handled can be difficult.

All birds are messy, but a little budgie needs less cleaning up afterward than will a larger parrot.

Because they're so common, budgies are often dismissed as "just" a children's pet. But a friendly budgie can be a loving and entertaining pet for anyone, regardless of age or bird-care experience.

As for housing, the best guideline for choosing a cage is to look at the one specified for your bird -- and then go at least one or even two sizes bigger. For pets who spend a lot of their lives in confinement, it's only fair that they have as much room as possible. When you're looking at cages, though, check bar spacing to ensure the gaps are too narrow to allow escape.

Budgies are parrots, and so should be fed like them. Choose a high-quality pelleted diet and complement it with a wide variety of healthy "people food." Give seeds sparingly. Their best use is as a treat in training. -- Gina Spadafori

Do you have a pet question? Send it to petconnection@gmail.com.

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by "Good Morning America" and "The Dr. Oz Show" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Gina Spadafori. The two are also the authors of many best-selling pet-care books. Dr. Becker can also be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker.

THE BUZZ

Pet insurance slow

to grow in the U.S.

-- The pet health insurance business started in 1924, when a Swedish company issued a policy to cover a dog. It wasn't until 1982 that such coverage became available in the U.S., when the celebrity collie Lassie became the first to be granted a policy. While the industry is growing in the United States with more companies and a greater variety of coverage options, there are still plenty of pet lovers who have not been sold on the concept. In Sweden, half of pet owners carry coverage, while about a quarter do in the United Kingdom. In the U.S., fewer than 3 percent of owners have health insurance coverage on their pets.

-- The Guinness Book of World Records has stopped listing animals in the "fattest" category, concerned that record-seeking owners will put their pets' health at risk to be a record-holder. Surveys of veterinarians report that about 60 percent of all cats and half of all dogs are overweight or obese.

-- For those who have thought ahead and made a disaster-preparedness plan, almost four of five say their pets are included, according to a report by the American Veterinary Medical Association. With hurricane season again threatening millions in the Southeast, now is a great time to develop a plan if you don't have one, or to review plans if you do have them. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Mikkel Becker Shannon

Pets don't try to hold it, move to a more discrete area or blame it on their human family. It's usually no secret when a pet passes gas and commits a four-pawed faux pas. They don't giggle with embarrassment or blush.

Intestinal gas is just a natural part of digestion, after all, however funny we humans may find it.

While dogs seem to be the main offenders, cats are also prone to flatulence, although they produce less gas, and their tendency to keep their distance makes their gassiness less noticeable. Plus, there's a big auditory and olfactory difference between a flatulent 10-pound feline and a gassy 120-pound Great Dane.

But if you are like most people, you'd like to find ways to wind down the passing of wind. Here are a few tips:

A wind walker: Exercise helps move everything along the digestive tract and out the back door. Just remember to stay upwind and pick up after your pet.

Watch what you feed: Consider a change of diet. While gas is a normal byproduct of digestion, if your pet is gassy as a blimp, his diet may need some adjustments. Talk to your veterinarian not only about your pet's regular meals, but also about any between-meal snacks he is enjoying, whether you're handing them out or he's finding them himself. For cats, especially, realize that while they may enjoy milk, many don't digest it well. To see if your cat is among these, stop the dairy for a bit and see if it helps.

Say "know" to supplements: Supplements are a mixed bag: Some may increase gas, while others may aid digestion. Again, your veterinarian can help you sort out the choices and their pros and cons. One supplement that may well help is the introduction of beneficial bacteria -- probiotics -- that help with digestion.

Fast eaters and short faces mean more gas: Not only do wolfers swallow air when they inhale their food, but they often overeat as well, backing up the digestive system. Pets with short noses -- pugs and bulldogs, for example -- are also not designed for an optimal intake situation. The result of swallowed air and excess fermentation is belches, flatulence or both. Several companies make bowls designed to slow down gulpers. You can also toss the bowl and feed from food puzzles -- toys that make a pet work to get food a little bit at a time.

Some veterinarians and grateful pet owners also swear by a product called CurTail. The same as Beano for people, this anti-gas product contains an enzyme that helps break down food, so that it can be digested more fully with more internal combustion and less, shall we say, external combustion.

While we sometimes laugh when the dog passes gas, some top veterinarians caution that sometimes peculiar, persistent smells are more than meets the nose. In fact, sometimes underlying medical problems can generate those nasty gasses that are more like tear gas than laughing gas.

That means that if the situation is beyond the occasional toot session, the odors are especially noxious -- yes, I realize it's relative -- and the strategies I've shared seem not to help at all, you need to get your pet in for a veterinary checkup. There may be something more serious going on.

In other words: If you really want to clear the air, see your veterinarian.

Q&A

Cat spraying is not

a litter-box problem

Q: Our cat has suddenly started spraying urine on the furniture. We've squirted him, spanked him and yelled at him, but it doesn't help. He's still using the litter box, just not all the time. My husband says if it doesn't stop, the cat goes out. Can you help?

A: The application of urine to mark territory is different from the release of urine to eliminate waste from the body. The strategies for addressing spraying are different from those that you use in getting a cat to use a litter box.

That said, the first step is exactly the same: Take your cat in to see his veterinarian to make sure there isn't a health issue triggering this change in behavior. Your veterinarian's office is the place to start with behavior problems of any kind, especially when they come on suddenly in previously well-mannered pets.

Although both male and female cats may spray, unneutered males are the biggest offenders. Neutering takes care of the problem in the majority of cases if done before sexual maturity is attained. While neutering isn't quite as effective on adult cats, it's worthwhile to alter older spraying cats.

For those cats who don't respond to neutering, environmental stresses -- such as a new person or pet in the house or a neighbor's cat in the yard -- may be triggering the spraying. Anti-anxiety medication may help (talk to your veterinarian), as can cleaning sprayed areas thoroughly and covering them with foil to discourage fresh marking. The pheromone-based aerosol products made by Feliway may also help calm your cat and reduce the urge to spray.

Don't punish your cat for spraying, even if you catch him in the act. Doing so makes him even more anxious and more likely to mark. Punishment is never a good strategy when trying to solve behavior problems in cats. -- Gina Spadafori

Do you have a pet question? Send it to petconnection@gmail.com.

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by "Good Morning America" and "The Dr. Oz Show" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Gina Spadafori. The two are also the authors of many best-selling pet-care books. Dr. Becker can also be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker.

THE BUZZ

Pet industry expands

as population grows

-- Looking for a new career? The demand for pet-related services continues to increase along with the number of pets and the need many people have for help with their care. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 20 percent increase in the number of animal trainers in the next decade, with nearly 60,000 working as trainers by 2018. The Bureau's observations match those of pet-industry experts who have long noted a steady increase in services such as canine day-care providers, dog exercisers and yard-cleanup companies.

-- Property owners in California will no longer be allowed to demand that dogs be debarked and cats be declawed as a condition for renting if a bill in the state legislature becomes law. The bill would also forbid landlords from giving preferential treatment to tenants with declawed or devocalized animals and from advertising in a way designed to discourage applicants whose animals have not been surgically altered in such a way.

-- As the pet health insurance industry continues to grow with more companies entering the market, the kinds of pets being insured is expanding as well. Veterinary Pet Insurance reports that more than 5,000 animals besides dogs and cats have been insured with the company. The number is still small -- VPI insures nearly half a million animals overall -- but continues to grow. The company reports issuing policies to 334 guinea pigs, 38 hedgehogs, seven ducks, 10 doves, 19 pot-bellied pigs, 18 sugar gliders, one goose, one hawk and one pigeon, 60 iguanas, four boa constrictors, 18 pythons and 1,437 rabbits. (Note: VPI is a sponsor of PetConnection.com.) -- Dr. Marty Becker and Mikkel Becker Shannon

Modern veterinary care is not inexpensive.

Every day we hear from readers who remember when "Good ol' Doc Jones" patched up their cats for next to nothing.

These days, readers complain, many veterinarians want to use available diagnostics to see what's really going on (and reduce risk during anesthesia), suggest newer procedures to fix things that were fatal not that long ago, and pretty much try to do the best job they can with all the advances of the last couple of decades.

Go figure.

Costs for everything have gone up, and "Good ol' Doc Jones" is paying more to keep the hospital doors open, even before you consider all the new options veterinarians can offer today. The good news: If you practice good preventive care with your cat -- which should, of course, include neutering -- you can really keep costs down.

Top strategy for doing so: Close the door on your cat's wandering.

A lot of cat lovers hate hearing this. They've always let their cats roam, and they're reluctant to change. A free-roaming cat seems easier to care for, especially if the outdoors serves as a litter box (a policy that's never fair to or popular with the neighbors).

But the things that can happen to a free-roaming cat can really cost you at the veterinarian's. Outdoor cats are at high risk for poisoning, infectious disease, accidents and attacks, all of which can mean misery for your pet and expensive veterinary costs for you. Tips on converting your cat to a happy indoor life can be found on The Ohio State University Veterinary Hospital's Indoor Cat Initiative's website (www.indoorcat.org).

Other strategies for preventive cat care:

-- No more yearly shots. The emphasis has shifted away from automatic annual combination boosters to tailoring the kind and frequency of vaccines to an individual cat. Some vaccines are now given at longer intervals -- every three years is common -- and some are not given at all to cats who are not at high risk for a particular disease.

Skipping annual shots isn't an excuse to skip regular "well-pet" exams, which are a cornerstone of a preventive-care program. You can discuss which vaccines are right for your cat during the visit.

-- Keep your cat lean. Too much food and not enough activity puts the pounds on a pet. Excess weight is attributed to any number of health issues in cats, especially arthritis and diabetes. Don't crash-diet your cat -- it can be deadly. Instead, talk to your veterinarian about a healthy diet that will trim down your cat before the pounds really add up. Add in activity with daily play sessions using a laser-pointer or cat-fishing pole, whatever gets your cat going.

-- Don't forget the teeth. It doesn't hurt to get into a regular routine of brushing or swiping your cat's teeth, and many cats can learn to enjoy or at least tolerate the practice. If their teeth are left alone, cats develop dental problems that can shorten their lives and lessen their quality of life.

-- Practice good grooming. Basic brushing, combing and flea control are a must for preventive care. Keeping your pet parasite-free will make living with your animal much more pleasant (after all, fleas bite people, too). Regular brushing can also help build the bond between you and your cat, and will allow you to notice skin problems and lumps and bumps early.

Five tips for nine lives, all of them guaranteed to save you money and spare your cat. You can't beat that!

Q&A

Why not consider

pair of adult cats?

Q: We are looking for two kittens to adopt. We are having trouble finding what we want. We don't want to pay breeder prices, and the shelter doesn't seem to have much selection. We are looking for two kittens from the same litter. Do you have any suggestions? -- A.N., via e-mail

A: Prime kitten season peaks in late summer, but depending on where you live, you'll start seeing kittens in shelters soon. By August, most shelters will be swimming in kittens, with seemingly endless choices when it comes to coat type and markings. There will be too many kittens, really, because each year many more kittens will be born than can possibly be adopted. (Which is one reason why the constant effort of humane and animal-rescue groups to spay and neuter pets is so important.)

You can wait for more selection, but I have a better idea: Adopt a pair of adult cats. If you don't mind cats who are not siblings, you could also adopt an adult cat now and a kitten or cat later.

The choice is yours, of course. But my advice is to seriously consider adopting a bonded pair of adult cats.

Since you want to end up with two siblings, adopting adult littermates who are already comfortable with each other seems to me to be the perfect solution. If you're really interested in adopting siblings, I have no doubt you can find that in a bonded pair of adult cats. Just check around with area shelters and rescue groups.

Once the kittens start arriving, the older cats have a hard time competing for attention. Why not give a couple of great cats a second chance? -- Gina Spadafori

Do you have a pet question? Send it to petconnection@gmail.com.

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by "Good Morning America" and "The Dr. Oz Show" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Gina Spadafori. The two are also the authors of many best-selling pet-care books. Dr. Becker can also be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker.

THE BUZZ

Imported puppies

present problem

-- Is the troubled business of high-volume dog breeding being outsourced? A report on dvm360.com points to an increase in puppies shipped into the United States as one sign that overseas puppy mills are a growing concern. California attorney John Hoffman told the veterinary website that more French Bulldogs are imported into the United States than are bred here because artificial insemination and delivery by caesarean can be done more cheaply without the assistance of licensed veterinarians. Health certificates must be signed by a veterinarian for puppies to be shipped, but activists say documents can be forged and puppies are being shipped too young to get them in front of potential buyers at their most appealing age. The increase may be in part a response to crackdowns on domestic substandard breeding operations. Officials in California have also noted an increase in puppies smuggled in illegally. In addition to cruelty concerns, officials worry about potential health problems for pets, people and livestock that such imports present.

-- A fund established in March by Betty White and the Morris Animal Foundation to help wildlife after disasters proved to be timely in the wake of the oil-rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico. The Betty White Wildlife Rapid Response Fund is intended to give wildlife researchers monetary aid to respond to unexpected events, such as natural disasters and emerging diseases, that result in the immediate need for animal health research. The Emmy-winning star and lifelong animal lover will match all donations up to $25,000. You can donate at Firstgiving.com/MAFrapidresponse.

-- A cat's heart normally beats between 140 and 220 times per minute, with a relaxed cat on the lower end of the scale. It's not unusual for a heartbeat to be high at the veterinarian's, since most cats don't like being away from home, and they certainly don't like being handled in such settings.-- Dr. Marty Becker and Mikkel Becker Shannon