We have occasionally 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, excessive heat is not the only danger. Cold is dangerous too. Especially when dealing with sudden changes in temperature. For example, when you are at home with the heating turned all the way up and it is time to take your best friend out for the last walk of the day… This is risky for both us and our dogs. But any responsible and caring ARISTOPARENT makes sure that their dog leaves the house properly equipped, with a coat, raincoat, or whatever is necessary.
As always, the problem lies with irresponsible or negligent owners who do not stop to think about the consequences the 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 environments with extreme temperatures.
The state of Illinois (USA) enacted an amendment to the Humane Care for Animals Act on January 1, 2016, establishing that no owner of a dog or cat may expose it to a life-threatening situation for an extended period of time in conditions of extreme heat or cold. Violating this provision was classified as a Class A misdemeanor. Months later, similar news came from another state, specifically Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania's geographical diversity results in a wide variety of climates. The southeastern area has a humid subtropical climate, with mild winters. Meanwhile, most of the low-lying inland areas have a moderate humid continental climate, with warm, humid summers and very cold winters. The mountainous areas of the Appalachians, for their part, have a more severe humid continental climate, with colder, snowier winters and somewhat cooler summers. But this disparity in climates has been made uniform when it comes to animal welfare.
The new animal protection law, passed in June 2017, prohibits dogs and cats from being left outdoors in below-freezing temperatures. Failure to comply with this rule can result in prison sentences of up to 7 years and fines of $15,000. With less than a month to go before winter officially arrives, the state's governor, Tom Wolf, has issued a reminder that pets cannot and should not be exposed to temperatures below zero degrees. In fact, the law defines negligence as leaving a pet outdoors for more than half an hour in extreme temperatures: namely, below 0 degrees, but also above 32 degrees Celsius. Exceptions? Only when the pet is participating in sporting or hunting activities.
Based on the idea that «if it is too cold for you, it is too cold for your pet», the organization Human Society, whose mission is to protect animals in the United States, supports the measure taken by the governor's office and urges people to care for both their own pets and other people's pets. Therefore, if someone sees a neglected pet or one in poor condition, they should report it to the local or state police.
We are sharing this initiative because we find it very interesting and inspiring that people are becoming aware of the need to look after pets at all times, especially during periods when they are most vulnerable. Above all, in a country like ours, where there is no nationwide animal protection framework law to harmonize the various regional laws. We hope that the different autonomous communities will take note… so that this winter we do not have to face the heartbreaking headlines we have grown accustomed to: poor dogs abandoned in the cold or locked in cars overnight…
