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.

Our Dogs' Aggression

Hogan was extremely fortunate enough to have met and been treated by Dr. Nicholas Dodman at the Tufts Small Animal Hospital in Massachusetts back in 1994. Hogan's success story flourished under his attentive and dedicated care. No stone was left unturned, and he remained in constant contact with us for months. His interest in Hogan peaked because of Hogan's deafness and ability to understand American Sign Language—Tufts' first dog to do so. 

Our connection has continued, and I am honored that he has become a wonderful, loyal friend who has offered his invaluable gifts of knowledge and expert experience. So much so that he and his staff have graciously and generously permitted me to share the Center for Canine Behavior Studies (CCBS). Their studies reveal the newest results in viewing and addressing behaviors of our precious pups. 

I believe that most of us have encountered or known a pup who displayed some kind or variation of aggression. Often, the reason and treatment of this behavior is a mystery, and we do our best to find some resolution. This latest report definitely helps shed pertinent light that will help our beloved dogs.

Journal of Veterinary Behavior

Available online 5 March 2021

"If veterinarians, behaviorists, and trainers avail themselves of the information gleaned from our study, we believe the awful problem of aggression will be more successfully addressed. This, in turn, will help keep dogs out of trouble and in their homes for life. 

 That was and always will be our goal."

- Dr. Nicholas Dodman CCBS President/CEO

The Center for Canine Behavior Studies, Inc. is proud to announce that the Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research (Elsevier) has published their research paper titled, "An investigation into the effectiveness of various professionals and behavior modification programs, with or without medication, for the treatment of canine aggression". The paper was written by the CCBS team of Ian R. Dinwoodie, Vivian Zottola, and under the leadership of President/CEO Nicholas H. Dodman. The paper follows CCBS' award-winning paper "Demographics and Comorbidity of Behavior Problems in Dogs" published in the Journal's Volume 32, July–August 2019, Pages 62-71.

The study was constructed to address the most efficacious behavior modification programs, training equipment or technique to determine what approaches stand the best chance of success based on empirical evidence. The study investigated 963 dogs whose owners (n = 800) described as having at least one form of aggressive behavior. 

"We were surprised to find that a significant number of aggressive dogs had medical problems underpinning their aggressive behavior. Lesson 1: Always check in with your veterinarian first," says President/CEO of CCBS, Dr. Nicholas H. Dodman, DACVB

The investigation into the effectiveness of various professionals and behavior modification programs, with or without medication, for the treatment of canine aggression

Highlights

• Fifteen percent of dogs brought to veterinarians for advice about behavior problems were found to have an underlying medical problem contributing to the dog's misbehavior.

• Behavior modifications were found to be the most consistently beneficial approach to treating all forms of aggression.

• Of the owners that sought help from a DACVB, a majority (81%) found the advice to be helpful for treating their dog's aggression.

Abstract

In this follow-up study we investigate a subset of 963 dogs whose owners (n = 800) described as having at least one form of aggressive behavior. We were particularly interested in learning which types of professionals, if any, were sought for assistance for the presenting behavior. Owners were also asked to indicate the resolutions employed, including training methods and equipment, behavior modification programs, behavior modification and training techniques, medications, and forms of alternative medicine. Using a self-reported questionnaire, both cohesive and dispersive aggressive behaviors were investigated including conflict aggression (CA), interdog housemate aggression (HA), fear aggression toward people (FA), fear aggression toward dogs (FAD), and predatory aggression (PA). Fifty-three percent of dogs with reported aggressive behaviors were mixed breeds. The study sample was 56% male, a majority (91%) of which were neutered. Most commonly, the dogs with reported aggressive behaviors were the sole dog in the household. Fifty-six percent of dogs were brought to at least one professional for remedial assistance. Of the owners that sought help from a DACVB, a majority (81%) found the advice to be helpful for treating their dog's aggression. Fifteen percent of dogs brought to veterinarians for advice about behavior problems were found to have an underlying medical problem contributing to the dog's misbehavior.

As far as training equipment was concerned, we found that anti-bark collars and muzzles decreased the probability for successful treatment of aggression. Thirty-six percent of dogs were exposed to behavior modification programs as a form of treatment and an association was found between employment of a systematic desensitization and counterconditioning for treatment of overall aggression. When employing behavior modification training techniques, response blocking was found to decrease probability for improvement when employed for treatment of fear aggression to other dogs and predatory aggression. Improved dog-owner communication, habituation, relaxation protocols, and short and frequent training sessions were the most consistently beneficial behavior modification techniques. At least one beneficial behavior modification technique was identified for each investigated form of aggression.

Twenty-one percent of dogs received medication as a form of treatment for aggression. Surprisingly, we failed to find any significant associations between treatment response and the administration of specific medications. When investigating alternative medicines, we found nutraceuticals to be helpful when treating overall aggression.