i dont sound like im a mean owner do i?

If they are on runners and are able to move around with relative freedom then no, I wouldn't say you're a mean owner. One thing I WOULD make sure of, though, is that they can't reach a fence or tall surface while on the runner.

Make sure you follow the runner and see exactly where it extends to. If it extends to a place or object that they could jump over without having enough runner, it could hang and kill them.

If you can take them for a walk each day, that would be excellent for their mental and physical health along with giving you and your dogs an excellent bond.

As for the litter box, cats are very very clean animals, so as long as they like the litter and the box is clean, they will love using it. If, however, the box becomes too "unclean" for its liking, it might do like my cats, and go find something nice and soft to pee on. So just remember, the box is the most important asset of the cat, and as long as it's a happy, clean, box, there shouldn't be any messes. But don't get upset if one or two happen in some given, extended, time frame; accidents happen. For food, they love wet food, and it's easier to eat, but it's not always the best. After all those foods were pulled off the shelf at stores, especially, you need to be careful of what you're feeding your cat. Dry foods tend to be better because it helps the teeth stay strong and healthy. The best thing would be to ask the shelter what kind of dry food they're feeding it there, so you can keep the food regular when your kitty comes home. If there's one super-comforting thing in a brand new home with brand new people, it's having the same food as before. And if you do want to switch it, make sure you gradually mix the two together. The shock of a food/ habitat/ lifestyle change can be very traumatizing, so keeping the food the same will help a lot. Your new kitty will basically be a homeless child when you bring it home, so give it little kitty areas--the eating area, the sleeping area, the litter box area--and be a comforting, loving, supporting parent. Eventually your kitty will come out from hiding, explore its new home, and be an individual entity. And try to have the kitty see you giving it food and water. The more they realize you care for them, the more they'll love you :)

Depends. I would have to see the exact situation.

How long of a cable are the dogs on? I mean is it long enough that they can have a pretty good area of the yard to move around in? Or is the lead extremely short to where they are forced to stand in their own waste? You should also take them off the chain from time to time to walk them and possibly allow them to run the yard while you are outside watching them. Make certain they can get to their food, water and shelter with ease and that you are giving them plenty of attention. If you are doing these things then there is not much of a problem with it.

Personally what we have done with our "outside dogs" is we have a large 10 foot privacy fence around the back yard. The dogs run the yard. Then we also have a large dog kennel in the back yard as well, if we want to leave them outside when we are gone we put them in the kennel thus this gives two layers of security. They would have to get out of the kennel and then get out of the fenced in yard as well which is highly unlikely. In extremely cold weather we bring them in. Possibly your family could invest in a kennel or privacy fence.

The major concern i have regarding a dog left on a chain is their is a slight danger in the dog becoming tangled up in something and choking themselves. You want to look around where your dog is hooked and make certain that there is nothing out of the ordinary that could possibly endanger the dog.

Is there any chance you can get your parents to "Invisible Fence" the yard?

IMO, the handful of zaps your dogs will get while being trained to understand the invisible fence boundary - is more than worth the lifetime of chain-free freedom they will have to freely roam your yard.

I have seen a few dogs get trained on invisible fences, and THEY would tell you that the trade-off is 1000% worth it too. It only takes a few light zaps for them to "get it", it is not traumatizing, and then they don't get zapped any more because they are trained to recognize the beeping as meaning they are approaching the boundary.

Your dogs quality of life and overall well-being will be better if they don't have to live their lives on a tether.

FYI - any time anybody says anything pro-invisible fence here, well meaning but ignorant people knee-jerk thumbs down it. Ignore them. I am an animal rights advocate. For example, totally against anti-bark surgery. Totally against de-clawing cats. Invisible fence - the zaps last a few moments, the benefits - the freedom - lasts a lifetime.

Only caveat to getting Invisible Fence is - don't let it become your dogs babysitter. Your dogs still need alot of excersise, walking and attention and interaction from you.

Um..properly restraining your dog, so it does not get hurt, run threw neighbors yards or get hit by a car, is not mean. What is mean is mean spirted neighbors that are so bored out of their minds they have time to print flyer's and go door to door and disperse them.

I would absolutely ignore it, show no reaction whats so ever. They will next file complaints with the Human Society, animal control, police dept, anyone who might listen to their childish nonsense. Just stay calm and do not give the benefit of a fight that's what they want. Completely ignore all their childish rants, and over time it will stop.

Good luck!

I don't think there's anything wrong with having your dogs on a wire like this while they are in your yard but ONLY if they are also taken out for regular walks as well.

If they are not, then this is indeed a cruel way to keep any animal that is as active as dogs need to be, and you should appeal to your parents to let them off and to take them out for proper exercise.

As long as the dogs are getting proper walks and enough human contact. They don't spend the whole day tied up do they? As long as they're getting a 45 minute walk out of the garden then they're fine. Them running back and forward on cable runs doesn't give them nearly enough phisical exercise and definitely doesn't give them enough mental exercise. So, lik I said, as long as they are getting a 45min walk every day, on the lead, walking at a fast pace, then it's fine. If they are not getting this exercise or the right amount of human contact and love then you may want to talk to yor parents about it.

Hope this helps.

Have them tied to tress all day is been 'mean' why don't you talk your dogs for at least 2 walsk a day (morning and night).

1) they will have spent some time with their owners

2) they may settle down and you can let them in the house.

I think you parenst need to think about if they really want to own a dog at all let a lone more than one!!

By legal definition, no, but taken in the spirit of keeping dogs for companionship then yes it would seem mean to others who don't keep their dogs on wires.

Perhaps when you have your own place one day you'll be able to keep pet dogs indoors like most other people. Until then any judgement is reserved.

You don't sound like an owner at all. If your parents make the decisions about the dogs, then THEY are the owners. If they are constantly tethered, never walked or played with or let inside the home, then I would classify them as neglectful, not necessarily 'mean'