In January 2010, this newspaper ran a letter to the editor from Michael Savino of Seminole, Fla., regarding a recent 10-day visit he and his wife enjoyed in Las Vegas. In his letter, he complimented the people here as “friendly and welcoming” then went on to write about the disturbing number of  tethered dogs in town, with limited access to food and water and warmth during the cold winter nights.

“Many of the chained dogs that I saw barked and snarled menacingly at me and my dog when I passed during my walks,” Savino wrote.