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Do you know a dog living a pitiful life at the end of a chain?

For the third year, Dogs Deserve Better Greater Dayton will have its valentine campaign to call attention to dogs living at the end of a chain, with little social contact and simply left outside by owners.

The group is asking children to make valentines with a short message of love for these dogs and send them to Dogs Deserve Better Valentine Campaign, Box 23, Tipton, PA 16684 before Feb. 5.

The group is also looking for dogs left sitting at the end of a chain. Send the address of that dog to Lois Rose at irisgma@msn.com or to Kim@dogsdeservebetter.org.

The valentines made by the children will be sent to the owners of those dogs with a coupon for dog treats and an offer to help with fencing.

This isn't for dogs that are not being fed or sheltered or abused. If you know of a dog in that condition, contact your local humane society to save the animal's life. This is more about the dog's social and emotional needs.

Dogs Deserve Better is a national nonprofit organization working to bring dogs into the home and the family, with the idea that dogs left alone at the end of a chain are not getting social contact and can potentially turn into dangerous animals if a child wanders into the yard.

I have written about this group before and sometimes get e-mails from readers who are outraged that they won't be able to put their dogs on a chain to relieve itself or run up and down for a while. That's not what the group is trying to get rid of. They are working to stop people from putting a dog at the end of a chain, usually at the back of the yard, 24 hours a day.

Dogs Deserve Better will aid any caretaker who agrees to bring his/her dog into the home and family. The organization will help with house-training, purchase a crate for house-training or donate fencing as funding permits.

The group has designated Valentine's Week, Feb. 7-14, as "Have a Heart for Chained Dogs Week."

To learn more about Dogs Deserve Better programs and services, visit the site at www.dogsdeservebetter.com. To learn more about the Mothers Against Dog Chaining program, visit www.mothersagainstdogchaining.org

Beatles tribute band to perform at ball

This year's Bark & Purr Ball has attracted some popular entertainment with the Eight Days a Week Beatles tribute band slated to perform on March 17. The Bark & Purr Ball is sponsored by Animal Friends Humane Society to raise money for its programs. Animal Friends is the only open-admission shelter in Butler County, taking in all pets.

Last year's fundraiser sold out. This year's event will be from 6 to 10 p.m. at Receptions in Fairfield. The cost is $40 per person.

For tickets or to donate, call (513) 867-5005 or visit www.animalfriendshs.org.

Kennel Club lists most popular dogs

The American Kennel Club has released its list of the most popular dogs in the U.S. They are:

1. Labrador Retriever

2. Yorkshire Terrier

3. German Shepherd

4. Golden Retriever

5. Beagle

6. Dachshund

7. Boxer

8. Poodle

9. Shih Tzu

10. Miniature Schnauzer

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2248 or ldenger@DaytonDailyNews.com.