What to do about a chained up dog

[kuro]

I work in a business based on a farm in mid Devon next door to a smallholding owned by irish gypsies. They have a lurcher that used to roam free but in the last week or so ive noticed its now chained to a makeshift kennel at the bottom of their field. The tether is just long enough to allow it to come out and go to the toilet but thats it. The rest of the time he just sits in the doorway looking sorry for himself and occasionally howls and whines. Its quite a sad sight and I feel I should do something, dogs deserve better than this. Whats the law concerning this treatment?

[moorx]

This is what the law says:

http://www.rspca.org.uk/whatwedo/changingthelaw/wh...

You could certainly report to the RSPCA, but they may not be able to do much unless there is evidence of suffering. I'm with you that this is no life for a dog, but there are sadly many dogs in similar circumstances, on both traveller sites and in private back gardens.....