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December
8 , 2006
With
the colder temperatures here, people are being warned to keep their
pets indoors. Already, local humane officers have been out on calls
for animals left out in the cold.
For
some folks, keeping their pets warm in cold weather is extremely
important.
Gail
Hess of Berwick was shopping Friday for a coat for her toy poodle,
Charmie.
"I
don't want to take her to freeze to death and she has to be outside.
I mean not outside normally just outside to go to the bathroom,"
Hess said.
Unfortunately,
when the mercury drops, the calls of animals left outside increase
at the Luzerne County SPCA.
"These
are domestic animals. These are not animals that can fend for themselves.
They're not wolves, they're not coyotes," said Vince Sweeney
of the SPCA.
Sweeney
added it's important to remember that while animals have fur, they
can get hypothermia and die in cold weather so leaving them outside
can land you in hot water.
"A
dog that is chained outside in this kind of weather, you're violating
the law and a humane officer can cite you for that. It is a summary
offense but you can be written up and brought before a magistrate
for that," Sweeney explained.
If
your pet is outside for any length of time, by law they need a shelter.
You can build a doghouse or buy one. The tallest side of the house
must be as tall as your pet and you need to give them matting, like
newspaper or straw or you can buy mats for the inside.
The
houses must also be four to six inches off the ground and have a
shingled roof with enough of an incline to allow rain to run off.
Remember,
animals outside in the cold must have water. Use a sturdy bowl or
bucket and make sure the water doesn't freeze.
If
you're ever in doubt about whether to leave your animal outside,
Sweeney and the people at the SPCA say, don't.
"Give
them a little respect. They give you so much and they ask so little,"
said Sweeney.
If
you suspect an animal is being left outside, call the local SPCA
or humane society.
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