Safety for Dogs in Extreme Weather

Pet, Pet Care, Pet Safety

I posted this information two years ago but it is worth repeating in order to remind everyone how dangerous things can get in the hot summer temperatures. Watching the screen on our weather station located in our front yard, my heart sinks thinking of all the animals outside in the rising temperatures. Too many are left unattended, provided with an insufficient supply of fresh, cool water, shade, or comfortable shelter, and chained to a tree or stake. Why do these people have a pet? Would they like to be chained for hours? Do they care about their dog who depends on them for life's essentials, including real love and genuine care?

The following is a reprint of an article from FOX59 news. The additional requirements of the ordinance are good, but I would like to see them go further. The consequences need to carry a bigger penalty that bites into the human’s purse and personal comforts. Perhaps they should experience what they put their precious pets through. At the least, the pups need to be taken out of the home. Children are taken from unsafe environments, and we need to protect the ones without voices - we must be their voices and protectors.

“Indianapolis, Indiana has a new addition to the Indianapolis Animal Care and Treatment Ordinance that defines the extreme low and high temperatures at which point dog owners must bring their dog inside a temperature-controlled facility.

The new rules were added to the Care and Treatment of Animals ordinance in September 2015, and this is the first summer they are in effect.

According to the ordinance, it is now required by law to provide your dog with shelter when the temperature reaches 80 degrees Fahrenheit, and you must bring your dog inside when it’s warmer than 90 degrees Fahrenheit.

The law also sets new requirements for tethering and enclosures. Here is a complete list of the improvements made to the ordinance, as provided by Friends of Indianapolis Dogs Outside (FIDO):

Shelter

Your dog must have access to:

• A shelter constructed of solid wood or other weather-resistant materials consisting of solid walls on all sides

• A dry floor raised above the ground

• A roof sloped away from the entrance to protect your dog from weather and extreme cold

Pen or Fenced Enclosure

• Your dog must have adequate space for exercise when confined to a kennel, enclosure or pen which must be at least 100 square feet (for example 10ft. x 10ft.)

• Any dog over 80 pounds must be provided with a space of 150 square feet

• For each additional dog inside the enclosure, an extra 50 square feet must be provided

Tethering

It is against the law to tether (chain) your dog if any of the following is true:

• Your dog is less than 6 months old

• Your dog is sick or injured

• It is between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m.

• Your dog is not spayed or neutered, unless you are an adult, your dog is in your visual range, and you are outside with your dog

Extreme Weather

Your dog must be brought inside a temperature-controlled building, such as your house when:

• The temperature outside is 20°F & below

• The temperature outside is 90°F & above

• There’s a heat advisory

• There’s a wind chill warning

• A tornado warning has been issued

Shade

• On any day where the temperature is at or above 80°F, your dog’s shelter must be shaded by either trees or a tarp.

"The new ordinance does not prohibit people from walking their dog or letting their dog outside to relieve themselves. The new ordinance is targeted at situations where dogs are otherwise living in extreme temperatures 24/7 or close to it," said Darcie Kurtz of FIDO.

A person who violates any part of this ordinance will receive a $25 fine for the first violation and a $200 fine for the second or subsequent violations. Additionally, a court may decide to take the dog away from the pet owner.

According to the Humane Society of Indianapolis, unlike humans, dogs are only able to perspire around their paws which is not enough to keep their body cool.

Some signs of heatstroke are panting, staring, anxious expression, refusal to obey commands, warm, dry skin, high fever, rapid heartbeat, vomiting, and collapse. If your dog experiences any of these symptoms, call a veterinarian immediately and lower the animal’s body temperature by applying towels soaked in cool water to the hairless areas of the body.

Hogan's Hope for a Safe Puppy Home - Part 1

I have had the wonderful life of working with and training dogs since I was nine years of age. My father brought home our first family pup who we named Victoria. Of course, we called her Vicky for short. She was a devoted pup from the get-go, and my father believed that a good dog was a well-mannered dog. To this end, he began her training as soon as she came into our home and taught me everything that he knew. And…he knew a great deal.

Vicky learned fast and easily because of her high level of intelligence and intense desire to please. She loved us with all her heart and dedicated herself to our protection. I could tell you several stories where she quite literally saved the day, but that’s for another time. Well, okay. So not to keep you hanging, she relentlessly dragged my mother by the arm out of the basement where Mama was doing the family laundry. There was an electrical fire that started in the wall on the first floor. If it weren’t for Vicky, my sister and I would have been trapped on the second floor. The firefighters gave Vicky all the credit for saving the family. This is only one of several times that our beautiful girl protected and saved her beloved family.

The days before bringing Vicky home were filled with excitement and preparations for our new, four-legged furry family member.

Part 1: Puppy Proofing the House

1. Secure cabinet doors so noses and paws can’t open them.

2. Relocate all dangerous items such as cleaning solutions and powders, sponges, hair products, onto higher, out-of-reach shelves.

3. Replace trash cans with tight-fitting lids. Garbage can be extremely dangerous with the bones, plastic wraps, aluminum foil, sharp edges created by chewing on plastic containers. Intestines can be perforated or blocked with life-threatening emergencies.

4. Place clothes hampers in strategic locations. All dirty socks, underwear, and odorous clothing must be kept completely out of reach. Puppies love us and any item that has a strong scent of us is appealing to them.

5. Designate a safe place for shoes. Shoes are a great chew toy for our puppies, especially since our feet smell delightful to them. Think about creating a safe, special shelf just inside the back door for shoes to be placed as soon as you come in the house. Remember to keep closet doors closed tightly.

6. Make a safe place for your puppy to sleep. Puppies need a bed of their own to sleep and feel secure. The bed and possibly a crate do not need to be overly large. It only needs to be large enough for your pup to stand and turn around. Purchase a crate that is the size needed when full-grown. Use dividers to make the interior smaller and gradually increase the area as your puppy grows. This gives the feeling of security, like a den. It also keeps your pup safe when you need to leave the house for limited amounts of time. He or she won’t be able to run throughout the house and get into trouble by chewing on wires, cushions, or other things. Since dogs don’t like going potty in their beds, it will help with housebreaking. Do remember to take your pup outside immediately upon arriving home and/or taking him or her out of the crate.

7. Designate a safe play area. Some folks like obtaining Xpens (exercise pens that are usually collapsible) that are like a playpen for toddlers. It keeps your puppy safe while you’re busy with things around the house. But don’t overly confine your puppy; our “children” are members of our families who want and need to be included and part of our ongoing activities.

8. Choose a high-quality food. Quality and price are not necessarily in the same equation. Talk with your veterinarian and select the highest quality that you are able to afford. Remember to never underfeed your growing puppy, and feed him or her at least three (3) times a day. Feed until satisfied. I also recommend that food not be left down so they can graze. You want your pup to be happy and healthy as well as eager to receive a reward during training.

9. Obtain food and water bowls that are non-slip, stainless steel or lead-free stoneware or ceramic. Bowls need to be easily cleaned as well as sanitized! Wash food bowls thoroughly after every meal to eliminate bacteria, and wash water bowls and fill with fresh water often.

10. Buy durable and appropriate collar, harness, and leash. Different sized dogs need different collars and/or harnesses. For instance, a very small dog is better outfitted with a harness for attaching a leash than a collar. A collar can also be used but function more as decorative attire and for ID tags. Harnesses with a back clip used on larger dogs tend to promote pulling, but no-pull harnesses are now available that are working wonderfully. If you use a collar, I recommend a Martingale collar. It tightens enough so your pup can’t back out of the collar which is a great and very important safety feature. Yet, it doesn’t choke. Please remember that over time, choke collars damage the esophagus! [Note: Proper training techniques eliminate the need for choke collars.] Make certain that the clip is strong and sturdy and won’t break or open.

11. Get a seat belt. This is non-negotiable! It’s extremely tempting to say or think that we’ll hold our puppy. NO! It’s very simple to attach a seat belt strap to a dog’s harness and then to the seat belt in our back seat. Sudden stops, hard braking, or minor bumps throw our pups and seriously injure them while the humans are safely belted. No one can hold a pup in an accident. Please do not fool yourself or allow anyone to convince you otherwise. Too often, Police officers have witnessed an accident or incident where the humans are fine but the animal suffers great injury. Slamming against a seat can be fatal. Belting a pup only takes a moment. And…the pup can still sit in someone’s lap if that’s the issue. Additionally, air bags kill dogs of all sizes in the front seat.

12. Order identification tags or have the collar embroidered with your pup’s name and your cell phone number. The embroidered collar eliminates the possibility of tags getting ripped off and keeps your vital information on your pup. [Note: Talk to your veterinarian about having your pup chipped for permanent identification.]

13. Pick up your children’s toys and make a safe toy box. Puppies love to chew, and destroyed toys not only upset children (and parents) but pose real dangers for pups. Perforated bowels and blockages are life-threatening.

14. Purchase safe play and chew toys. Like our little children, puppies are inquisitive, adventurous, and investigative. Everything is fun, and they like to experience all types of sounds, places, textures, and shapes. Everything also goes into their mouths! Hard rubber toys of all sizes and shapes are wonderful. I suggest KONG and Yapple toys. The ones with a hole can be slathered with a small bit of wholesome peanut butter or cheese. Stuffed toys are a favorite of dogs BUT must be monitored very carefully. Let your pup play with them only when you can supervise them. Monitor to make sure that the stuffing can’t be ingested and cause intestinal blockages or irritations. Put these toys away when you are not with your pup. Safe items are available that simulate heartbeat and warmth and can be used during the transition away from littermates. The adjustment can be distressing, and these are reported to help in some situations. (I have another admission - I always allowed my pups to sleep with us at night. By tethering them to me, their movement alerts me, and I take them outside. I keep them tethered to me until I am sure they were potty trained.)

15. Think about housebreaking before your puppy comes home. Rules of thumb: 1) A puppy can only hold their bladder for the number of hours equally their age in months. A two-month-old puppy can only wait two hours at the most - it can be shorter. 2) Take your puppy out 10-20 minutes after eating.

    Next Blog - Part 2: Puppy Arrives Home