Outside dogs?

I always wonder why someone would bring a dog into their family and then relegate the dog to living outdoors all the time?

A dog is a pack animal, and we as their people - are their pack. Studies have shown that dogs that are confined to the yard or tied up outside for long periods of time, develop stress, frustration and anxiety. A stressed dog will dig, bark, howl or whine, chew wood and other objects and escape any chance they get. And, yes, exhibit aggression. Some may argue that their dog is a protective dog, so their aggressive behavior is a good thing.  Yet dogs will only protect their territory, and if their territory the the yard, your intruder has free reign when inside your home. Plus, if your dog has no emotional attachment to the people in the house, except for their food and occasional greeting, the aggression could be directed inappropriately at a human family member.

Unfortunately, outside dogs are not usually considered part of the family and are more easily discarded when the dogs presence no longer fits the families needs. When I was a child, a family in the neighborhood had an outside dog tied with a chain to a doghouse. This dog always worked on escaping, and did so fairly regularly. When this family moved away, they left the dog tied up to the doghouse, with one bowl of food and drove off. They said that someone would hear the dog whining, see he was alone and come and get him. Someone did. Sadly, he was taken to the local pound, and most likely euthanized.

With the idea that outside dogs are guard dogs, I have to question what kind of a guard dog is the Chihuahua on my street. This little dog is tied to a post in the yard everyday and most nights. His whining can be heard for hours on end. His people have been warned that in Los Angeles the "tethering law, makes it illegal to tether, fasten, chain, tie or restrain a dog to a doghouse, tree fence or any other stationary object for more than three hours in a 24-hour period." Several neighbors have called, reported this family, and Animal Services pays a visit. Afterwhich the dog is brought into the house for a few days. Then the cycle continues. So I again question, why would someone bring this dog into their family and then force the dog to be alone outside? 

As I write this I can see the Animal Services truck drive by. I wonder if today is this dogs lucky day, or just another warning that will be ignored.