OHIO – With temperatures dropping to freezing weather, the sheriff reports that calls of well being check dogs outside in weather is a regular thing and they want to remind concern citizens that not all dogs are in peril.
“Some dogs have been bred for weather,” says Gallatin County sheriff office, “Breeds like Huskies, Malamutes, Great Pyrenees, Newfoundlands, and Bernese mountain dogs are bred to stay outside all winter and frequently prefer to be outside even in bitterly cold temperatures.
If it’s too cold outside for humans, it’s too cold for dogs, this isn’t an actual true statement for some dogs, according to Veterinarian Dr. Cerny. “Many dogs can handle much colder conditions than humans, but nothing beats common sense. A sled dog is used to extreme cold while a Chihuahua probably is not. Thick coated breeds can handle much colder weather than short haired breeds. If a dog lives outside it is important to provide shelter from the wind and snow.”
Observation is key to seeing if dogs out in the cold are suffering or playing. Shivering and signs of distress are clear indicators and need to raise alarms. Just remember some dogs truly love to be outside, often to their owners’ dismay.
In 2019 President Trump passed into law with his signature a bill that makes animal cruelty is a federal felony.
The bill, Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act, criminalizes specific acts of animal cruelty such as “animal crushing” or purposefully crushing, burning, drowning, suffocating, impaling living non-human mammals, birds, reptiles or amphibians.
The new bill would have imposed time limits on tethering and a prohibition on tethering animals in certain weather conditions. Furthermore, a prohibition on tethering would have been imposed if the tethers were unsafe, under a certain length, allowed the animal to touch fences or cross property lines, or were inappropriate for the animal’s size. HB 94 also would have prohibited tethering if the surrounding area was unsanitary, or if the owner of the premises was not present. Finally, the bill would have amended the current law to include punishment for violating the proposed tethering language.
