We have, on occasion, told you about the dangers that heat poses to our beloved ARISTOPETS. In fact, we have given you advice on how to prevent ARISTODOGS from suffering heatstroke, as well as how to protect ARISTOCATS at home.
However, not only excessive heat is dangerous. Cold is also dangerous. Especially when one faces sudden changes in temperature. As happens when, for example, you are at home with the heating on full blast and it's time to take your best friend for the last walk of the day... This is risky for both us and our dogs. But any responsible and caring ARISTOPARENT ensures that their dog leaves home well-equipped, with a coat, raincoat, or whatever is necessary.
As always, the problem lies with irresponsible or negligent owners, who don't stop to think about the consequences that cold can have for their dogs. People who believe that "because they are furry" they can be perfectly fine outdoors. Fortunately, there are places where measures are already being taken to ensure the safety of dogs in extreme temperature environments.
The state of Illinois (USA) enacted an amendment to the Humane Care for Animals Act on January 1, 2016, which established that no owner of a dog or cat can expose them to a life-threatening situation for a prolonged period of time in conditions of extreme heat or cold. Violation of this provision was established as a Class A misdemeanor. Months later, similar news arrived from another state, specifically Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania's geographical diversity leads to a wide variety of climates. The southeastern area has a humid subtropical climate with mild winters. While most of the low-lying interior areas have a moderate humid continental climate with warm, humid summers and very cold winters. Meanwhile, the mountainous areas of the Appalachians have a more severe humid continental climate with colder, snowier winters and somewhat colder summers. But this disparity of climates has been homogenized when it comes to animal welfare.
The new animal protection law, approved in June 2017, prohibits dogs and cats from being left outdoors in sub-zero temperatures. Failure to comply with this regulation can lead to prison sentences of 7 years and fines of $15,000. With less than a month to go until winter officially arrives, the state governor, Tom Wolf, has issued a reminder that pets cannot and should not be exposed to temperatures below zero degrees. In fact, the law determines that it is negligence to leave a pet outdoors for more than half an hour in extreme temperatures: below 0 degrees, but also above 32 degrees Celsius. Exceptions? Only when the pet is participating in sports or hunting activities.
Starting from the idea that "if it's too cold for you, it's too cold for your pet", the organization Human Society, whose mission is to protect animals in the U.S., supports the measure taken by the governor's office and urges the public to care for both their own pets and those of others. So, if someone sees an unattended pet or one in poor condition, they should report it to the local and state police.
We share this initiative because we find it very interesting and inspiring that awareness is being raised about the need to look after pets' well-being at all times, but especially during periods when they are more vulnerable. This is especially true in a country like ours, where there is no national framework law for animal protection that harmonizes the various regional laws. Let's hope that the different autonomous communities take note... so that this winter we don't have to face the heartbreaking headlines we're used to: poor dogs abandoned in the cold or locked in cars overnight...
