For five years, Blackey, a playful mix of Rottweiler and shepherd, has spent days in Vanette Wilson's backyard, chained to a tree.

Wilson hated that. Her children didn't like it. And Blackey often was clearly upset by it, breaking 10 chains and running through the neighborhood or chasing the mailman.

"I've tried to save money to build a fence for Blackey," Wilson said. "But I'd get some bill and have to use the money for that."

Sunday, Blackey was unchained.

He got a fence after more than 60 volunteers from the Charlotte chapter of the Durham-based Coalition to Unchain Dogs converged on Wilson's backyard. They built a large pen of wooden posts and sparkling chain-link in two hours.

It was the local chapter's 100th fence since hoisting its first in November 2009.

The project included neutering Blackey, and 13 second-grade girls from Brownie Troop 672 built him a doghouse.

"Being chained up is not good for the dog or the community," said Neya Warren, a Charlotte lawyer who is head of the local chapter. "Kids can wander into the yard and get hurt. Dogs get frustrated and are protective. They can get attacked or hurt by the chains getting tangled or snagging on a tree. It is so much better for them to be in an open space to run around behind a fence."

Effort began in Durham

The coalition was started four years ago in Durham by Amanda Arrington, who grew up in rural Texas, where she hated seeing her grandfather's dog, Buddy, chained up.

The first fence, in April 2007, unchained two dogs.

The coalition has grown to five chapters in North Carolina and Georgia and built about 1,100 fences.

"This shows what a few dedicated people can do to change the life of a dog in the matter of two hours," Arrington said. "I am very excited and proud to see how far we've come."

The local chapter has pushed city officials to ban tethering dogs, like in Durham and Asheville.

Last year, Charlotte City Council passed a law that designated how dogs must be restrained. The law took effect in February and includes:

Requiring chains or runners be at least 10 feet long.

Chains can't be more than 10 percent of the dog's total weight.

Properly fitting harnesses or collars. You should be able to fit two fingers snugly between the pet and collar.

Using swivel hardware to prevent chains or runners from tangling.

"It was a good first step," said City Council member Patsy Kinsey, a dog owner who was at Sunday's fence-building. "Eventually, I'd be in favor of banning tethering. The issue will come up again. This coalition, which I'm very impressed with, has assured us of that."

'A blessed day'

If Wilson moves her family, the coalition is committed to pull up the fence and take it with her.

Melinda Merritt of Charlotte has been one of the group's more dedicated volunteers. As a girl in upstate New York, she showed Lhasa Apsos. Her parents owned a kennel.

"I do this for the dogs," said Merritt, a marketer for Bank of America. "They don't have a voice, and it's up to us to give them one. More than just building the dogs a fence, we're also educating the owners."

Vanette Wilson was pleased with her new fence.

So was Blackey.

As soon as he was unchained and let loose in his pen, he played to all the cameras chronicling the event.

"This is a blessed day," Wilson said. "A happy day for my family - and Blackey."