“SeaWorld, SPCA, Orange Animal Services team up for pets - Orlando Sentinel (blog)” plus 1 more |
| SeaWorld, SPCA, Orange Animal Services team up for pets - Orlando Sentinel (blog) Posted: "SeaWorld's Happy Tails," a new pet adoption program, starts Thursday, Feb. 10, at the SPCA of Central Florida shelters in Orlando and Sanford, and the Orange County Animal Services shelter in Orlando. This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php |
| Cold weather can be deadly for pets - News-Herald Posted: Even thick-coated breeds of dogs that can remain outside with adequate shelter should be brought inside when the temperature or wind chill drops to below 0 degrees. As cold temperatures persist in the metro Detroit area, the Michigan Humane Society's cruelty investigators are responding to an extremely high number of cold weather-related animal cruelty calls — many with tragic results, according to a MHS spokeswoman. While concerned residents alert the MHS each winter to hundreds of pets that are suffering in the cold without ample provisions, sometimes the calls come too late. The MHS strongly urges that pets live indoors year-round with the rest of the family to meet the animals' physical and social needs. However, during severe weather, that decision should be mandatory, as it is often the difference between life and death for some animals. Additionally, that decision also holds potential felony animal cruelty repercussions for the negligent pet owner. "The Michigan Humane Society cruelty investigation team recently picked up four dead dogs," said Debby MacDonald, MHS chief cruelty investigator. "They were someone's pets, yet they suffered outside and slowly died due to frozen water bowls, too little food and inadequate shelter to withstand the elements. "These dogs were chained up and basically forgotten while their owners lived and slept comfortably inside. Several potential felony cases on behalf of these animal victims are being investigated as a result." Failing to provide adequate care for an animal can result in a sentence of up to 93 days in jail, up to a $1,000 fine, community service and loss of pet ownership. In more extreme cases, felony charges are often sought by prosecutors, which can carry a penalty of up to four years in jail. Continued... Such animal suffering easily can be avoided, the spokeswoman said. If pets must be left outdoors for any length of time, Michigan law requires pet owners to provide them with ample shelter, food and water. During severe weather, though, these provisions might not be enough, especially if the dog is very young, old, ill, small, underweight or has a short coat. Most dogs living outside fall into one or two or more of these categories. Even if they have a well-built, slant-roofed, insulated dog house filled with straw bedding, small or short-haired dogs should be brought inside when the temperature falls to 15 degrees to 20 degrees. Larger, thick-coated breeds can remain outside with adequate shelter until the temperature drops to around 0 degrees. Precipitation and wind chills also should be considered. "There is a misconception that because dogs have coats, they can be kept outside year-round, without a thought given to weather conditions," MacDonald said. "We want to make it clear that this is not acceptable, and pet owners will be held accountable for making sure their pets are protected. If not, a pet may pay the price with his life." If a dog is shivering, curling up into a tight ball or attempting to dig a "bed" in the straw, it is probably too cold to remain outdoors. If the dog is extremely cold to the touch, or the paws, ears or tail tip have turned bright red, it may be showing signs of frostbite. The pet should be moved to a warmer area, and the pet's veterinarian contacted immediately. Clean, dry straw should be provided for bedding rather than rugs or towels, which absorb moisture and freeze in the cold. Continued... Even thick-coated breeds of dogs that can remain outside with adequate shelter should be brought inside when the temperature or wind chill drops to below 0 degrees. As cold temperatures persist in the metro Detroit area, the Michigan Humane Society's cruelty investigators are responding to an extremely high number of cold weather-related animal cruelty calls — many with tragic results, according to a MHS spokeswoman. While concerned residents alert the MHS each winter to hundreds of pets that are suffering in the cold without ample provisions, sometimes the calls come too late. The MHS strongly urges that pets live indoors year-round with the rest of the family to meet the animals' physical and social needs. However, during severe weather, that decision should be mandatory, as it is often the difference between life and death for some animals. Additionally, that decision also holds potential felony animal cruelty repercussions for the negligent pet owner. "The Michigan Humane Society cruelty investigation team recently picked up four dead dogs," said Debby MacDonald, MHS chief cruelty investigator. "They were someone's pets, yet they suffered outside and slowly died due to frozen water bowls, too little food and inadequate shelter to withstand the elements. "These dogs were chained up and basically forgotten while their owners lived and slept comfortably inside. Several potential felony cases on behalf of these animal victims are being investigated as a result." Failing to provide adequate care for an animal can result in a sentence of up to 93 days in jail, up to a $1,000 fine, community service and loss of pet ownership. In more extreme cases, felony charges are often sought by prosecutors, which can carry a penalty of up to four years in jail. Such animal suffering easily can be avoided, the spokeswoman said. If pets must be left outdoors for any length of time, Michigan law requires pet owners to provide them with ample shelter, food and water. During severe weather, though, these provisions might not be enough, especially if the dog is very young, old, ill, small, underweight or has a short coat. Most dogs living outside fall into one or two or more of these categories. Even if they have a well-built, slant-roofed, insulated dog house filled with straw bedding, small or short-haired dogs should be brought inside when the temperature falls to 15 degrees to 20 degrees. Larger, thick-coated breeds can remain outside with adequate shelter until the temperature drops to around 0 degrees. Precipitation and wind chills also should be considered. "There is a misconception that because dogs have coats, they can be kept outside year-round, without a thought given to weather conditions," MacDonald said. "We want to make it clear that this is not acceptable, and pet owners will be held accountable for making sure their pets are protected. If not, a pet may pay the price with his life." If a dog is shivering, curling up into a tight ball or attempting to dig a "bed" in the straw, it is probably too cold to remain outdoors. If the dog is extremely cold to the touch, or the paws, ears or tail tip have turned bright red, it may be showing signs of frostbite. The pet should be moved to a warmer area, and the pet's veterinarian contacted immediately. Clean, dry straw should be provided for bedding rather than rugs or towels, which absorb moisture and freeze in the cold. The MHS Detroit Center of Animal Care, 7401 Chrysler Drive, provides free straw, available for pickup from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and to 7 p.m. Wednesdays. Report animal cruelty instances Downriver to local animal control or police offices. To help the MHS rescue and care for animals this winter, donations can be made online at www.michiganhumane.org or by calling 1-866-MHUMANE, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. 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