Someone asked but better yet, just get them inside! FOR THOSE OWNERS WHO LEAVE YOUR DOGS OUTSIDE HERE ARE YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES UNDER THE LAW: The New York State Agriculture and Markets Law state that in order for a dog to be left outside it must meet ALL of the following conditions: The shelter provided must be appropriate for the dog’s breed, physical condition and climate. This means that a wooden doghouse, plastic igloo, or similar type of shelter is not appropriate during freezing and below freezing conditions for short hair breeds (beagles, pit bulls, Chihuahuas, etc.). This also means an older dog or a dog with a medical condition, such as arthritis, cannot be left outside in freezing and below freezing temperatures. “Physical condition” shall include any special medical needs of a dog due to disease, illness, injury, age or breed about which the owner or person with custody or control of the dog should reasonably be aware. “Dogs that are left outdoors” shall mean dogs that are outdoors in inclement weather (“Inclement weather” shall mean weather conditions that are likely to adversely affect the health or safety of the dog, including but not limited to rain, sleet, ice, snow, wind, or extreme heat and cold) without ready access to, or the ability to enter, a house, apartment building, office building, or any other permanent structure that complies with the following standards. For all dogs that are left outdoors in inclement weather, a housing facility, which must (1) have a waterproof roof; (2) be structurally sound with insulation appropriate to local climatic conditions and sufficient to protect the dog from inclement weather; (3) be constructed to allow each dog adequate freedom of movement to make normal postural adjustments, including the ability to stand up, turn around and lie down with its limbs outstretched; and (4) allow for effective removal of excretions, other waste material, dirt and trash. The housing facility and the area immediately surrounding it shall be regularly cleaned to maintain a healthy and sanitary environment and to minimize health hazards. Inadequate shelter may be indicated by the appearance of the housing facility itself, including but not limited to, size, structural soundness, evidence of crowding within the housing facility, healthful environment in the area immediately surrounding such facility, or by the appearance or physical condition of the dog. Also, please keep in mind that dogs must be supplied with water at all times. A water bowl that is filled with ice does not meet this requirement. If your shelter does not meet the above requirements or if your dog is not breed-, age, physical/medical-appropriate, then you must keep it inside during inclement weather. This also applies to when it is too cold for the water bowl to contain water in its liquid state.
Posted on: Wed, 07 Jan 2015 22:36:12 +0000