"It is not the policy of the Hawaii Dog Foundation to do such mailings," Thompson said. "It is our position that by no means is the person/people responsible directly or indirectly affiliated with the Hawaiian Dog Foundation."

Thompson asks that all comments and complaints on the matter be forwarded to hdfmelissa@yahoo.com or to the Hawaiian Humane Society at hhs@hawaiianhumane.org. She asks anyone who has received a letter to contact her at the foundation by e-mail or at 220-8165.

The letter that's causing the stir starts out by asking, "Is there a way you can stop chaining your dog 24 hours a day 7 days a week???"

It goes on to compare the chaining to a prison sentence, calls chaining cruel punishment and urges dog owners to take their pets inside. It also has a plea written from a dog's perspective and ends with saying the Humane Society can take the pet if the owner can't make it part of the family, and it also says the Hawaiian Dog Foundation can find a home for the pet with a fenced yard so the dog won't be lonely. It also lists the HDF's phone number.

"This is not a matter we are taking lightly, Thompson said.