"If You Chain Your Dog,
I Challenge You to Look Through My Eyes"

by Miranda Riane

Hello. This has taken me awhile to write, as there are many emotions that go along with it.  It involves so many more than the true characters in this story, as the events and victims are sadly not as uncommon as people would like to think.  I will introduce you to my son, Timmy Hughes, myself, Miranda Riane, and Boss, the three year old pitbull who lost his life due to the cruel and irresponsible actions of his owners, Holly Mertens and Kevin Millen, and how it all could have so easily been avoided.

My eight year old son went to play across the street with the new kid on the block one November day after school.  Less than an hour later, he would have injuries to his left forearm that would require two surgeries and nearly a four day stay in the ICU. 

The family who had moved across the street owned five dogs, three border collies and two male intact pitbulls.  Two of the collies were free to roam the house.  One collie was kept in the basement of the home.  The two pits were separated on the front porch of the home, in tiny kennels made of filthy plywood.  They could not see over the wooden walls or interact with their family, which is probably all they wanted in life, but would never get. 

Boss, a brindle pitbull, three years of age and full of life, would probably have done anything to chase a ball and fall asleep either on the couch in the living room, or at his masters feet.  Instead, day after day, year after year, he spent his time hearing the world go by, but never being part of it.  This drove him into madness, and when my son, who was playing in the dogs yard, ran past him, he reacted by jumping on my son, grabbing hold of his arm, shaking him off of his feet, and tearing my sons arm down to the bone.  I thank God everyday that Boss was not given the chance to grab his face or his head.  I would not have my son with me today had that been the case.  My son is all I have and without him, I know beyond any shadow of any doubt I could not go on living.  That is why I am writing this now, for you all to read.  I don't know how to do anything but stand up for my son, and I am doing that by getting involved, hopefully preventing another child from being attacked in this way, or making someone who chains their dog—without a second thought—to stop and just for one moment think about the damage it is really causing.  I know had Holly Mertens and Kevin Millen socialized their dog, loved their dog, and kept him off of that chain, my son would not have suffered as he did, and Boss would be alive today, living the life a dog was intended to live.

Boss was not current on his rabies vaccine the day he bit his first human, his owner, Holly Mertens.  On September 7, 2006  Boss attacked another dog and also Holly, causing a serious injury to her arm as well.  This was bite number one for Boss, the beginning of the end for him.

On November 16, 2007 he was chained outside to a tree, attempted to reach a dog that was being walked on the sidewalk, realizing he couldn't reach the dog, he instead mauled my son for simply running past him.  Again, Boss was not current on his rabies vaccine. Boss's fate was hanging by a thread.

Than, on January 12, 2009, Boss turned again on his owner, this time it was Kevin Millen.  He caused the most serious bite to him, tearing a large chunk of flesh from his upper leg. 

The most unsettling part about Boss's story was his treatment, and the fact these two people continue to chain the dogs they have.  After my son’s bite, he was, along with the other pitbull, chained in the basement of the home, again surrounded by plywood.  I imagine he received even less socialization down there than when he was chained on the porch.  I have included a photo of Boss, taken by the owners.  If a photo was ever worth a thousand words, this one is that photo.  Please note the heavy chain around his neck, the dirty conditions he was forced to live in, and the lack of space he had.  This was his life, it was all he had.  I hope wherever he is now, in the afterlife, he has space to run, play, and just be a dog.

The end of Boss came on March 5, 2009 when Waushara County charged both Holly and Kevin with "dog causing injury after notice," and finding them both guilty.  They were forced to pay a fine as well as surrender him.  Boss was euthanized that morning following court.  He found in death what he never could find in life.  Freedom from solitary confinement and peace.

I cried that day for Boss, as did my son, because it was not Boss's fault, but rather his owners for treating him like a possession, rather than a creature that has emotions and needs the same as we all do.  I have never, nor will I ever blame the dog.  He was a victim, the same as my son.  Only he did not have a voice, until now.  Parents Against Chained Dogs is the voice for children, parents, as well as chained dogs. 

If you’re one of the many who chains your dog, I ask to challenge you. One night, just one night when your family is home, enjoying each other’s company, go sit in a bathroom alone. Close the door.  Listen to the sounds of your family laughing, talking, socializing. Do not let them interact with you, aside from bringing you a plate of dinner, only to again close the door on you.  See how long it takes you to become bored, frustrated.  How many hours pass before you say enough is enough, and walk out to join your family.  Than, as you do, remember this, you were able to walk out, free yourself.  A dog cannot.  How many hours were you in there for?  Three, four?  A chained dog will usually spend his entire life on the end of a chain.  The anger inside from that sort of life—it must be unreal. 

For the sake of your dog, do not chain him.  Bring him inside and make him the companion animal he was meant to be. 

If you see a chained dog, give him a Dogs Deserve Better or PACD brochure.  Get involved.  Make a difference.  Change the laws that still allow cruel confinement of pets.  You will be saving the life of not only a dog, but possibly a child as well. 

Dogs have been man's best friend for centuries, lets return that favor and bring them inside where they belong!

Read Miranda's Account of Timmy's Attack

Read News Articles of Timmy's Attack