Those animal rights activists who chained themselves to a doghouse in front of Hi-Way Pizza on the Fourth of July might be a little...odd.

But they are not nearly as crazy as some animal rights activists in California who have delivered harassing and intimidating threats directly to the doorsteps of researchers.

There were more than 70 cases of researcher victimization in 2003; in 2002, there were only 10, the Foundation for Biomedical Research found. Some Web sites creators now go so far as to list names and contact information of such scientists so protesters can gain access to them more easily.

Jerry Vlasak, an Animal Liberation Front press office spokesman, told the Associated Press he doesn't advocate killing those who use animals in research, but that intimidating or murdering them could be "morally justifiable."

Really?

Sure, animals have a right to life and should be treated with care. However, fellow humans have those rights, too.

Though some activists have said nonviolent protest methods have failed to get appropriate attention and results, there are better ways of getting a point across than hunting down scientists and throwing stones through their windows

State College resident Terri Nelson-Bunge and others drew attention to the issue of chaining dogs by spending 20 hours last week with chains around their own necks.

This was a sight customers and passersby could not easily ignore, and they probably won't forget it, at least not any time soon. At least it made them do a double take.

The Chain-Off protest began with a single protester, Tammy Sneath Grimes, also of State College. It now encompasses 36 states and more than 100 participants, according to dogsdeservebetter.org.

So, congratulations to Sneath Grimes and her four-legged friends for garnering support for their cause. This mature (O.K., comparatively, more mature) protest has gained attention in a nonviolent way -- a feat the protesters in recent Californian incidents cannot boast.

Pennsylvania is one of eight states lobbying for laws to limit dog chaining, and California is one of three states that have already passed such a law, according to dogsdeservebetter.org.

Dogs are man's best friend, but, these activists should focus their attention on inspiring people -- not harming them.