dogs on chains is it really fair?

i agree with leashes when you are walking them etc. but to put a dog on a 6 foot chain and left in a yard is just wrong in my eyes. i know aperson that has 2 dogs that she keeps on chains in the fenced back yard. the chains are short they cant get to each other and they have had puppies together and love being with each other. they are great dogs they dont bite, growl or anything just very loving. they break the chains or get lose sometimes and when they do they come to my yard through jumping on the dog houses and over the fence that doesnt bother me like i said they are great dogs and i tell her the dogs are fine when they end up in my yard no big deal. we havent been neighbors long just a month or so. well they have a puppy too and that one isnt on a chain and it gets in our yard all the time and in the house too. he is sweet and we love him like our own. we are always feeding the 3 dogs scraps etc. my husband cuts up rope for them to have something to chew on and etc. its just sad seeing them sit in the yard cant play cant run and no attention unless we strech hard with our hands through the fence to love on them. we talk to them all the time but they just look so sad. what do you think about chains etc