Law Forbids Leaving Dogs in Cold

Last March, the City Council approved legislation setting rules for tethering animals and for not leaving them out in extremely hot or cold weather.

Here is the ordinance on leaving animals outdoors:

Sec. 5:7-6B.   Restrictions on leaving animals outdoors.

    (a)     It shall be unlawful for any person to leave any animal outdoors and unattended for a continuous period of time greater than one-half (1/2) hour if the National Weather Service has issued weather alerts or storm warning, or if the temperature during such period is either below 32° F. or above 85° F. The animal shall be considered outside regardless of access to an outdoor doghouse or similar structure, unless such structure is a properly functioning climate-controlled and weather-resistant structure.

    (b)     No animal shall be left outside during snow storms, ice storms or thunderstorms.

(MC 2015-09, March 9, 2015.)

The tethering ordinance may be seen in the Municipal Code, Chapter 5, Article 7.on the city web site.

The laws came about after the plight of a dog named Butch was publicized on social media and animal activists rallied for the legislation.

--Bernice