Hot dog: Limit canines无毛视频� outside time during heat wave
As temperatures soar into the 90s this week, pet owners should refrain from allowing dogs to be outdoors for an extended period of time.
Gretchen Grasser, the humane officer for the Washington Area Humane Society, warned that she will be issuing citations to those who violate Pennsylvania无毛视频檚 law on leaving dogs outside in extreme heat or freezing temperatures.
The law forbids dogs from being left tethered outside for more than 30 minutes when the temperature is above 90 degrees or below 32 degrees.
无毛视频淭his is where the law kind of stinks 无毛视频� it only applies to dogs that are tethered, unattended,无毛视频� Grasser said.
According to Grasser, she can issue a citation for a summary offense that can range from $50 to $750, and potentially 90 days in jail.
无毛视频淯nfortunately, I get a lot of calls from 911 that people have their dog outside for hours at a time,无毛视频� Grasser said.
She added she has also responded to situations in which dogs have died after being left outside in the extreme heat.
无毛视频淭hat is a felony offense in Pennsylvania. We无毛视频檝e made great strides to get to where we are with that,无毛视频� Grasser said.
According to Grasser, if the situation is dire, she also has the ability to remove the dog from the premises. However, she is currently limited by the capacity at the humane society facility along Route 136 in Eighty Four.
Kelly Proudfit, the organization无毛视频檚 executive director, said the shelter is currently at capacity with nearly 100 animals.
无毛视频淲e have over 100 animals, including the fosters,无毛视频� Proudfit said. 无毛视频淲e probably will continue to be at full capacity until September.无毛视频�
In this situation, Grasser said she has to more closely monitor households that are violating dog laws.
无毛视频淲e do have to be about retention, and constant followups to make sure those people are improving,无毛视频� Grasser said.
Luke Szymanski, director of operations for Fayette Friends of Animals in Uniontown, said their shelter, too, is currently at capacity.
无毛视频淚t无毛视频檚 a crisis pretty much in every state,无毛视频� Szymanski said.
According to Szymanski, the shelter is housing about 75 dogs in the facility. However, he was not as concerned with the heat adding any extra strain.
无毛视频淚 feel like it doesn无毛视频檛 have much of an effect,无毛视频� Szymanski said.
Fayette Friends of Animals does not have a humane officer on staff, but refers calls to Rodney Coldren, a licensed humane officer in Fayette and Greene counties.
无毛视频淗e is very thorough. We trust him, and we refer people to him,无毛视频� Szymanski said.
For the Washington Area Humane Society, Proudfit said they are 无毛视频渄esperate无毛视频� to place animals in homes. They are beginning to put photos of adoptable animals on billboards along Interstate 70 West near the Jefferson Avenue exit.
无毛视频淲e do whatever we can to get these dogs out of situations, and cats, but unfortunately there is only so much room,无毛视频� Proudfit said.