Tina Patael of Baltimore plans to wake up bright and early today, buckle a dog collar around her neck, go outside and chain herself to a doghouse for six hours.

Ninety-eight people in 31 other states will be doing the same on and around Independence Day as part of "Unchain the 50," an event sponsored by Dogs Deserve Better, a non-profit animal rights organization fighting to toughen laws against keeping dogs chained for long periods.

Dogs Deserve Better has held its annual "Chain Off" around the July 4 holiday for the last 5 years in order to raise awareness about dogs who are kept chained or penned for long periods, sometimes their entire lives.

"Unchain the 50" kicked off Saturday in Atlanta and Seattle and runs until July 8.

"Living chained to a doghouse for 24 hours will be grueling and unimaginable for those of us who are so used to coming and going as we please," said Susan Hartland, organizer of the Atlanta and Seattle events and a Dogs Deserve Better area representative.

For Patael, 42, a long time independent animal rescuer, this will be her first chaining.

"Chaining dogs is unnatural and inhumane. We should have anti-tethering laws," said Patael, whose own dog spent the first year of its life chained to a tree -- until she talked the homeless man who owned it into giving it to her.

Patael said she will be joined by a friend, nurse Elizabeth Ackerman, who will also chain herself to the doghouse in Patael's yard on East Lake Avenue in Baltimore.

Last year, California became the first state in the country to pass a statewide law specifically limiting the amount of time a dog may be tethered to a stationary object. Over 100 local governments across the United States have passed legislation in recent years that either bans or limits how long a dog may be chained, the Pennsylvania-based organization says.

Dogs Deserve Better founder Tammy S. Grimes will travel from Pennsylvania to live chained in Atlanta for 29 hours. The event will also have representation in Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia,
Washington, Wisconsin, and British Columbia.

Long-term chaining of dogs has proven hazardous to humans as well. According to the organization, 143 children have been killed or seriously injured by chained dogs in the last four years.

Patael said prolonged chaining, in addition to posing choking hazards, can also lead to a dog's collar becoming embedded in its skin. She has come across cases of that in the 20 years she has been rescuing abused and neglected animals.

"I'm very excited to be able to do this and draw attention to the need," she said. "If I just open one person's eyes, its worth it."