Watch Jefferson CountyFreezing Dogs and Animal Cruelty
To the person that brought this up in another forum topic,
Thank you for your concern for the many dogs (and other pets) that are left outside to fend for themselves during this deadly cold spell upon us. I have a neighbor that is keeping four fully grown puppies in a small fenced-in cage with a doghouse so small none of them can stand up in it. These dogs are not treated as pets, because they are never let out of the cage, are penned up in the elements 24 hours a day, bark constantly at any human that they see (in hopes that someone will pay attention to them, I suppose), live in their own filth/urine/feces, and I doubt have any un-frozen water to drink from. I don’t know how these poor animals have survived so far, but I had to do something about it. I tried calling Animal Control, but was told they only handle dangerous animal and nuisance calls. I would have to contact the county “Humane Officer” at the Jefferson County’s Sheriff’s office. So, I did and was told nothing would be done unless I personally filled out a complaint report at the Sheriff’s office. So, I did and was further told that the Humane Officer position is actually a responsibility that is shared and rotated around among the Deputies and occasionally someone back over at Animal Control. They said that as long as the dogs have a dog house for shelter and are fed and given water regularly, there really is nothing they can do, legal-wise. But, since I filled out a complaint report, someone would be by in a day or two, to check on the condition of the dogs and their environment. Once I hear back from the Sheriff’s Dept., I will let you know what happens. Regardless, there ought to be some laws on the books that protect the animals from the cruelty of neglect and confinement to dangerous and unhealthy environments.
Comments
Responsibility for animals
I am so glad to hear that someone is "trying" to do something about this. I reported someone once and got the same answer. The person has moved so who knows what happened to the poor dog.
I also had a run in with a neighbor over a cat. Her cat was constantly in my trash and my childrens sandbox. I asked her to keep her cat on her property but she told me that her cat had free reign and there was nothing I could do. Guess what? She was right. People can let their cats roam and do not have to take care of them. Basically, Jefferson County lets people do what they want with pets. I love animals and would never hurt her cat but if it continues to go to the bathroom in my kids sandbox, I would not have a problem finding the cat a new home. Cats have no $ value so there is nothing she could do about that.
If anyone figures out the path to take to do something about this issue, I will jump on the bandwagon.
Sorry for rambling.
WV Animal Cruelty Statutes
In the short period of time that I have had to research animal cruelty statutes in WV, this is what I have surmised:
Penalties for animal cruelty or abuse have been getting tougher in WV over the past 10-20 years. But, they are written and enforced primarily for cases of deliberate mistreatment, injury or death. Very little can be done for apparent neglect, unless it is blatantly obvious and can be proven that the animals have already reached the point of suffering, disease, injury, or death.
The only wording in the statutes that can be used in these cases are “withholding proper sustenance including food, water, shelter or medical treatment necessary to sustain normal health & fitness
PET SAFETY TIPS
Reprinted from The Journal............................2/15/07
MARTINSBUG--- Animals and pets can be especially susceptible to cold weather. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals offers its top 10 pet care cold weather tips for owner’s reference.
1. Keep your cat inside. Outdoors, felines can freeze, become lost or be stolen, injured or killed. Cats who are allowed to stray are exposed to infectious diseases, including rabies, from other cats, dogs and wildlife.
2. During the winter, outdoor cats sometimes sleep under the hood of cars. When the motor is started, the cat can be injured or killed by the fan or belt. If there are outdoor cats in your area, bang loudly on the car hood before starting the engine to give the cat a chance to escape.
3. Never let your dog off the lease on snow or ice, especially during a snowstorm; dogs can lose their sense of scent and easily become lost. More dogs are lost during the winter than during any other season, so make sure yours is always wearing an ID tag.
4. Thoroughly wipe off your dog’s legs and stomach when he comes in from the sleet, snow or ice. He can ingest salt, antifreeze or other potentially dangerous chemicals while licking his paws; his paws pads may also bleed from snow or encrusted ice.
5. Never shave your dog down to the skin in the winter, as a longer coat will provide more warmth. When you bathe your dog in the colder months, be sure to completely dry him before taking him out for a walk. Own a short-haired breed? Consider getting him a coat or sweater with a high collar or turtleneck with coverage from the base of the tail to the belly. For many dogs, this is regulation winter wear.
6. Never leave your dog or cat alone in a car during cold weather. A car can act as a refrigerator, holding in the cold and causing the animal to freeze to death.
7. Puppies do not tolerate the cold as well as adult dogs, and may be difficult to housebreak during the winter. If your puppy appears to be sensitive to the weather, you may opt to paper train him inside. If your dog is sensitive to the cold because of age, illness or breed type, take him outdoors only to relieve him.
8. Does your dog spend a lot of time engaged in outdoor activities? Increase his supply of food, particularly protein, to keep him – and his fur – in tiptop shape.
9. Engine coolant, antifreeze, is a lethal poison for dogs and cats. Be sure to thoroughly clean up any spills from your vehicle, and consider using products that contain propylene glycol rather than ethylene glycol. Visit the ASCAP Animal Poison Control Center at www.aspca.org or call (888)426-4435) for information.
10. Make sure your companion animal has a warm place to sleep, off the floor and away from all drafts. A cozy dog and cat bed with a warm blanket or pillow is perfect. ---Staff reports
"All that is needed for the triumph of evil is for good people to do nothing." E. Burke (1729-1797)
Follow Up
OK, I finally have a conclusion to my initial animal cruelty complaint back in freezing February. The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Dept. dispatched an officer to check on the dogs and he filed a report stating that there was no evidence of animal cruelty as defined by WV statutes. There is nothing more they can do if the dogs have food, water, and shelter. I have noticed that the owners erected a flimsy tarp over the pen since the complaint was filed. Well, the cold weather has passed and the dogs are still here. At least three of them are. I really thought there were four dogs in that little pen a one time, but I could be mistaken.
I don’t get it though – The residents of that building have 2 or 3 other dogs (large) that they keep inside with them. They let these other dogs out to run and play in the yard frequently, all the while directly in front of the 3 penned up. At no time do the owners let the penned dogs out to play or to be played with. The penned dogs just wail, bark, and howl the whole time the other dogs are running free and playing. In fact, I now have to deal with the constant and extremely loud barking coming from the penned dogs 24 hours a day. We are talking early morning, all day, and late night hours. The owners are absolutely oblivious to their constant and extremely loud barking. Since there are no laws that deal specifically with barking in Jefferson County, it looks as though I will have to have a conversation with these folks, even though I really wanted to avoid face-to-face confrontations. I have tried to help out the dogs, but now they are annoying ME! Sometimes you just can’t win, but we have to do what we have to do…
Carrie Ann Stanley Good luck
Carrie Ann Stanley
Good luck to you I have always wondered how they could leave the dogs out in the frigid weather but obviously they can.