The Pet Tree House - Where Pets Are Family Too : Animal Control The Pet Tree House - Where Pets Are Family Too : Animal Control
Showing posts with label Animal Control. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Animal Control. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Woman Found What She Thought was a Stray Dog, and Called Animal Control - Turns Out it was a Coyote - It had to be Euthanized Because it Showed Signs of Rabies


Fort Worth, Texas - A woman recently found that what she thought was a dog turned out to be a coyote.

Cheyenne Harboe says she just wanted to do a good thing for a dog in need. But when it comes to wild animals in large cities, cute can quickly turn to dangerous.

"I thought it was a puppy at first,” said Harboe. “Then I got closer, and he was really skinny, and I thought he was probably sick.”

Harboe says when she saw the baby animal on her way into work, right behind a Posados Café in north Fort Worth, she wanted to help.

“When i got up to it, like I could tell, ‘I don't think this is a dog, or if it is, it's a really, really skinny dog,’” said Harboe.

With the animal wrapped in a blanket, Harboe named him Taco and took him to Summerfields Animal Hospital.

There, it was confirmed that Taco was, in fact, a coyote.

“The fact that he just even let me come close to him, I knew that something was probably wrong with him,” said Harboe.

Again, her suspicions were confirmed.

Dr. Karen Metzler, who works at Summerfields, saw several signs of rabies in the little coyote pup.

Woman Found What She Thought Was a Stray Dog, Called Animal Control - Turned Out it was a Baby Coyote - It Had to be Euthanized Because it Showed Signs of Rabies

Ft. Worth, Texas - "The lack of fear in this puppy sets off alarm bells for the potential for rabies,” said Metzler.

That revelation means the coyote is a danger to anyone it's exposed to.

"The potential for rabies exposure is present in wildlife, and coyotes are known to be a high reservoir host for rabies,” said Metzler.

Animal control was called, and the little guy was taken away. It’s not exactly the ending that Harboe had envisioned.

"I kind of regretted like trying to help him out ‘cause of the whole animal control thing,” she said.

State law says coyotes are a high risk animal for rabies.

The only way to test for rabies is to sample the brain tissue, so the coyote was euthanized and will be tested.



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Saturday, February 15, 2020

Pit Bull Ban in Denver Remains After Mayor Vetoes Vote to Repeal


The Mayor of Denver has vetoed a vote to repeal the city's long-standing pit bull ban.

Mayor Michael Hancock said on Friday in a letter to City Council that after hearing from thousands of residents on the issue and carefully considering the matter, he could not "in good conscience support this legislation."

The Denver City Council on Monday voted to amend a code that banned pit bulls entirely from the Colorado capital. The amendment passed 7-4.

The ban has been in place for some 30 years.

Hancock said he spoke to experts in veterinary care and animal control to get a better understanding of what the change could have meant for the city.

"At the end of the day, I must ask whether passage of this ordinance would make our homes and neighborhoods safer or pose an increased risk to public safety? I have concluded that it would pose an increased risk," his letter read.

To read more on this story, click here: Pit Bull Ban in Denver Remains After Mayor Vetoes Vote to Repeal

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Wednesday, October 17, 2018

What To Do If You See a Pet Left Out in the Cold


It can be a crime to leave pets outside in extreme temperatures without food and shelter

Cold weather can be deadly for pets. As the temperature plummets in many parts of the country, The Humane Society of the United States sees a marked increase in the number of complaints about dogs and cats who have been left outside with no food or shelter.

We encourage you to contact local law enforcement agencies because pets left outside in extreme temperatures, especially without food and shelter, are at risk of hypothermia, frostbite and even death. Their owners are at risk of facing criminal charges.

The act of leaving a pet outside without food or adequate shelter often receives less attention than a violent attack against an animal, but neglect is a crime. "Especially in these cold months, it is important for people to bring their pets inside and for others to report neglected animals to law enforcement,” says Ashley Mauceri, HSUS manager for cruelty response, who fields these calls.

To read more on this story, click here: What To Do If You See a Pet Left Out in the Cold


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Friday, November 3, 2017

A Central Florida Woman Was Arrested on Suspicion of Riding a Horse in the Middle of a Road While Drunk


Lakeland, Florida  - A central Florida woman was arrested on suspicion of riding a horse in the middle of a road while drunk.

Donna Byrne, 53, was arrested on charges of DUI and animal neglect after she was found riding the horse on Combee Road near North Crystal Lake Road in Lakeland.

Deputies said Byrne reeked of alcohol, had red, watery eyes and was staggering. Deputies said she provided breath samples that showed she had a blood alcohol level of 0.157 and 0.161, about twice the legal limit of 0.08 in Florida.

"Ms. Byrne was obviously not in any condition to be on the road," Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said. "She not only put herself and the horse in danger, but also anyone who was driving on the road, which is typically very busy."

Authorities said Byrne was charged with animal neglect because she did not provide proper protection for the horse, which she put in jeopardy of being injured or killed. 

The Sheriff's Office said Byrne's criminal history includes five felony and 10 misdemeanor charges, including cruelty to animals, drug possession and a probation violation.

The horse was taken to the Polk County Sheriff's Animal Control livestock facility.


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Thursday, November 17, 2016

A Miniature Horse Was Found Wandering in Okeechobee, Florida: Is in Need of a Home - If Not Claimed by November 18th, It May be Euthanized – Please Share


Okeechobee, Flordia -  There is encouraging news for a miniature horse found abandoned in Okeechobee.

The Okeechobee County Sheriff's Office Animal Control says it believes it has identified the owner of the mini horse, named "Little Sammy." Animal Control is now trying to locate the owner.

The extremely adorable mini pony was found abandoned roaming on various properties. The Sheriff's Office said it escaped its pen.

Okeechobee County Sheriff's Office Animal Control officers took the pony into their possession.

Officials said if the above livestock is not claimed by the 18th of November, "it shall be offered for adoption, auction, or disposed of humanely."

For information:
Okeechobee County Sheriff Animal Control

HOURS: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

1480 NW 25th Dr

Okeechobee, FL 34972

(863) 357-3225


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Sunday, July 10, 2016

New Proposed Law, S. 2174: Would Require Landlords to Check Vacated Apartments to Make Sure No Pets Have Been Left Behind


Phantom the Labrador’s owners left him behind in their apartment when they moved out.

The 2-year-old dog wasn’t discovered until months later, when neighbors complained about a foul smell emanating from the now-vacant space. That’s when Phantom’s body was found.

This horror took place in Hudson, Massachusetts, in 2011. Half a decade later Phantom’s legacy may be a first-of-its-kind law that helps prevent other animals from suffering this same dreadful fate.

This proposed law — S. 2174, which was written by Senator James Eldridge and passed the Massachusetts Senate— would require landlords to check on a vacated property to make sure no pets have been left behind within three days of a tenant getting out.

This applies to foreclosed properties, or those that are empty for any other reason — even if the tenant has just taken off, which the landlords knows (or should have known) about.

If there are animals discovered during the inspection, the landlord (or agent of the landlord) must contact animal control or the police.

It’s that simple. And advocates hope it will come into law and be very effective. Says Kara Holmquist, director of advocacy for the MSPCA-Angell:

One animal who dies of dehydration or starvation in an abandoned property in Massachusetts is one animal too many.

Under California law, landlords must let animal control know if they find an animal left behind in a property. Massachusetts would be the first state to tell landlords they have an affirmative obligation to go check for these animals.

It’s an important tool in saving lives, says  Bill Ketzer, the ASPCA’s senior director of state legislation for the Northeast region.

“By requiring owners to inspect for abandoned animals at recently vacated or foreclosed units and immediately notify an animal control or law enforcement, needless suffering can be reduced,” he said to BarkPost.


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Saturday, March 26, 2016

Fairfax County, VA - Police Received Two Reports of Black Bear Sightings in the Vienna/Oakton Area


Fairfax County, Virginia - Police received two reports of black bear sightings in the Vienna/Oakton area between Wednesday and Thursday morning, the Fairfax County Police Department said. This follows an earlier sighting of a black bear and a cub in Vienna on Sunday, March 20. 

According to police, a black bear and a cub (possibly a yearling) were spotted in the 2700 block of Bowling Green Dr., Vienna Thursday morning. Police say a residence in the area reported the spotting. In a press release sent out Thursday police said, "The bears were reported to have taken down a bird-feeder and plastic cabinet on the resident's patio. The bears also took a bag of birdseed from the cabinet before heading into the wooded easement along Interstate-66."

On Wednesday morning police also received reports of two small black bears seen crossing Oakton Road. Police say the bears were spotted near Waples Mill Meadow, Difficult Run Stream Valley Park and Tattersall Park.

Police said in the release, "Bears typically avoid humans, but in their search for food it is not uncommon to see one. Residents should not panic or feel alarmed when they see one. Bears are attracted by bird feeders, garbage, outdoor pet food, compost piles, fruit trees, and berry-producing shrubs. If addressed quickly, situations can be resolved almost immediately by removing the food source. Sometimes, the bear may return searching for food, but after a few failed attempts to find it, will leave the property. Most often, bears will keep moving through an area once they fail in their attempts to find food."

The Fairfax County Wildlife management Specialist and the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries give the following suggestions as precautions if encountered by a black bear:

  • Keep a respectful distance! In most cases, the bear will move on quickly.
  • If a bear is up a tree on or near your property, give it space. Do not approach, and bring your pets inside to provide the bear a clear path to leave your property.
  • If you see a very small cub, do not try to remove it from the area or "save it."
  • The best way to encourage the bear not to return is to remove food sources.
  • Do not store household trash, or anything that smells like food, in vehicles, on porches or decks.
  • Keep your full or empty trash containers secured in a garage, shed or basement.
  • Take your garbage to the dump frequently.
  • If you have a trash collection service, put your trash out the morning of the pickup, not the night before.
  • Take down your birdfeeder for 3-4 weeks after the bear visits.
  • Encourage your neighbors to take similar precautions.
  • Unless the animal is sick or injured, or poses a threat to public safety, Animal Control Officers do not take actions to attempt to remove bears from a neighborhood.

Police say bear sightings should be reported to the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries through the Virginia Wildlife Conflict Helpline at (855) 571-9003.

For more information on bear sightings and how to respond safely click HERE. 




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Wednesday, March 2, 2016

Daytona Beach Police Are Investigating a Photo on Facebook of a Dog with His Mouth Taped Shut


A picture posted to Facebook showing a dog with its mouth taped has sparked an investigation with the Daytona Beach Police Department, according to a news release.

A man who lists his name on Facebook as Bryan Futur Gomez posted the picture to his page on Sunday. The dog is seen lying on the floor seemingly between two people with blue tape wrapped around its muzzle. Also on the floor is an orange box and bits of paper scattered around.

In the photo caption, Gomez claims the dog is his, although that hasn't been verified. He writes that taping a dog's mouth is the wrong way to punish the animal and that he wanted to demonstrate that.

He claims the dog's mouth was taped for "emergency purposes only" using a stretchable tape with the adhesive portion folded inward so it could come on and off. He added that if his post gets 400 shares he'll post a video showing tricks the dog has been trained to do.

Gomez has not returned the Orlando Sentinel's request for comment.

Hundreds of people have shared and commented on the Facebook post to criticize the actions seen in the photo. Many of those same users contacted the Daytona Beach Police Department urging them to investigate the photo.

The department released a statement saying that animal control officers are currently working to identify the person who taped the dog's mouth shut so they can determine if any charges should be filed.

A spokesman said Wednesday that the Daytona Beach Police Department is trying to locate a suspect but no other information or updates were available.

Daytona police investigated a similar incident in November when a woman named Katharine Lemansky posted a photo to Facebook of a chocolate lab-mix with its mouth taped shut. The woman was from South Daytona but was in Cary, N.C. when she made the post.

In that case, animal control officers in Cary found that the dog seemed to be well taken care of with no signs of injury, so Lemansky was able to keep the canine but she was charged with animal cruelty.
  
You may be interested in reading:






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Tuesday, February 2, 2016

Fairfax County, Virginia: Animal Control Warning Residents About a Possibly Rabid Fox That Bit a Woman


McLean, Virginia - Animal control officers in Fairfax County are warning residents about a possibly rabid fox that bit a woman Tuesday afternoon in McLean.

According to police, the fox bit and scratched the woman outside her home in the 1400 block of Laburnum Street. Animal control officers could not find the fox when they responded to the woman's home.

The fox is described as a red fox with bloody paws and nose. Police say the fox was last seen on Copely Lane.

Animal control is asking anyone that sees the fox (or any animals with symptoms that could indicate rabies) to call animal control at 703-691-2131.

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Monday, January 4, 2016

A Woman Who Was Protected by Her Pit Bull After a House Fire Early December is Being Charged for an Arson


Landover Hills, Maryland - A woman who was protected by her pit bull after a house fire early December is being charged for an arson that happened on the previous day, Prince George's County Fire Department said.


The woman is being charged with multiple crimes in connection with the December 2 fire that happened in the 4800 block of 66th Place in Landover Hills.

A man was transported for minor burn injuries and then released from the burn unit. The woman was also taken to the hospital for a medical evaluation. Officials later learned of an unreported fire that happened the day before on December 1.

The unreported fire that happened on December 1 was an arson in an occupied home.


The 34-year-old woman, April Newell was determined to be the suspect. She is being
charged with arson first degree, arson second degree, arson threat, malicious burning first degree and malicious burning second degree.

She was arrested on December 31 and is being held on a $500,000 bond.

According to the authorities, the first that happened the following day, on December 2 is still being investigated.





  
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Saturday, December 19, 2015

Loyal Pit Bull Who Refused to Leave Unconscious Owner’s Side After Fire, Finds a New Home


Precious the pit bull was hailed as a hero after footage of her standing guard over her injured owner after a house fire went viral.

The loyal dog refused to leave its best friend's side after a blaze broke out early Wednesday at their home in Landover Hills, Maryland.

Blind homeowner Jimmy Newell, 65, and his daughter, sustained burns and suffered smoke inhalation in the fire.

His daughter managed to escape but fell unconscious on the grass outside the house where the dog stood guard.

Precious was so protective firefighters were eventually forced to scare her away with an extinguisher so they could treat her owner.

Both the woman and her father were rushed to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Despite her loyal watch guard, Precious and her puppy Molly were then seized by animal control and sent to a shelter.

Officials told the heartbroken owner that she would not be able to get her dogs back because of the county's ban on the pit bull breed. 

“I thought it would be with me until the day I die,” said Newell to New York Daily News. “Everything is changed.”

“It's sad. I love that dog,” said the owner's son Wednesday.

“Our hearts are broken for this family because these dogs cannot be returned to the people they know and love and who love them back. This shouldn't be happening in America,” the executive director of the Maryland Dog Federation, Adrienne Lefkowitz, told The Inquisitor.


But now it seems there is a happy ending for Precious and her puppy after the owner's sister Megan Sanchez, who lives in Montgomery County, agreed to take the pets.

“She just wanted to protect her mommy; that's all,” Sanchez told NBC Washington. “And her house.”

Sanchez, who works with animals and has a dog of her own, said her sister and family is welcome to come and visit their pets whenever they want.

“I'm glad they survived,” she said. “We're animal people.”

Another dog, of a different breed was also rescued from the home during the fire along with two turtles. The dog has now been returned to the family as it is not a pit bull.

Pitbulls have been banned in Prince George’s County since 1997.

Fire officials are still investigating the cause of the fire which is believed to have begun in a bedroom. None of the home's smoke detectors had been working at the time.  


This dog was seen standing guard over his severely injured owner as he lay outside his burning home in Landover Hills, Maryland, on Wednesday as firefighters battled the blaze and extracted other animals.



Here, firefighters are seen dealing with the building after dropping powder extinguisher on the blaze.



Fire officials are still investigating the cause of the fire which is believed to have begun in a bedroom.



Fire fighters who arrived at the blaze in Landover Hills, Maryland, on Wednesday were able to distinguish the flames and also save another dog inside the house and two turtles.
  
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Friday, December 18, 2015

2-Year-Old Boy Found in Filthy Home with Dozens of Dead and Dying Animals


Gray Court, South Carolina - A 2-year-old boy remains in the hospital in critical condition after he was found unconscious in a filthy home with dozens of dead and dying animals, Laurens County authorities said Wednesday.

Authorities charged Savannah Victoria Morgan, 25, of Gray Court, with three counts of child neglect and one count of child abuse and cruelty to animals, according to arrest warrants.

On Tuesday evening, deputies were called to a home where they noticed “deplorable living conditions and a foul odor within,”  according to an incident report.

Animal Control officers seized nearly 90 animals from the scene Tuesday night. The list of deceased animals included 48 rats, 11 gerbils, 10 python snakes, six tarantula spiders and two bearded dragons.

Warrants allege Morgan exposed a 2-year-old to physical abuse, causing the boy to suffer medical injuries such as bleeding in the brain and bruising to the head, neck and back.

The child was airlifted to Greenville Memorial Hospital, authorities said.

The boy’s mother originally told deputies that he choked on some chips and that she called 911 when she went into his room and saw he wasn’t breathing, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

Two other children were taken into emergency protective custody due to suspected physical abuse, the Sheriff’s Office said.

Deputies said they saw soiled diapers, clothing, feces, trash and broken glass on the floor and numerous live and deceased animals kept in plastic bins and cages. Two emaciated dogs were found chained up behind the residence and had no food or water, one report said.

Morgan is being held at the Laurens County Detention Center, where jail officials said her bond was set at $85,000.


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Saturday, December 12, 2015

Dozens of Sickly Snakes Removed from an Apartment in Baltimore, Maryland


Animal control officers have removed dozens of sickly snakes from an apartment in Baltimore, Maryland.

Sharon Miller, Baltimore's director of animal services, says officers rescued 56 snakes from the apartment on Tuesday. She says the reptiles were dehydrated and were infested with mites, and three had to be put down.

Miller says the snakes, which included ball pythons, reticulated pythons and boa constrictors, were removed after officers found them in squalid conditions.

The snakes were taken to an animal shelter.

Miller says an investigation is under way and citations or charges could result. A permit is required to own any kind of snake in Baltimore.



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Friday, December 4, 2015

A Dog Belonging to the Victim of a House Fire Stood Guard Over His Injured Owner: Fire Officials Say the Man is Expected to be Okay


A dog belonging to the victim of a house fire stood guard over his injured owner while firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze Wednesday morning.

Fire crews were called to the home in Landover Hill, Maryland, early Wednesday morning. Firefighters say they had trouble getting to one of the two people injured in the fire because the man's dog was standing over him.

Firefighters tried to call the dog away from the man, but the loyal pooch wouldn't budge. Firefighters eventually deployed a powder fire extinguisher in the direction of the dog, giving them time to get the man out of the house. 

The dog was never aggressive towards the firefighters, Mark Brady, a spokesman for the fire department, said.

Even after firefighters removed the man from the home, the dog could be seen sitting next to his injured owner.

The victim's son says his father is expected to be okay. The man's adult daughter also suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

A dog, two turtles and several puppies inside the home were removed safely. Animal control officers took the animals from the scene.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. Fire officials do not believe the home had smoke detectors.









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Thursday, November 19, 2015

An Animal Rights Group is Suing to Get a Chimpanzee Out of an Amusement Park Where She is Given Cigarettes


An animal rights group is suing to get a chimpanzee named Candy out of an amusement park where, it says, she smokes cigarettes and is given soft drinks instead of water.
Candy is isolated in an inadequate cage at the Baton Rouge park, and should be moved to a sanctuary, according to the federal suit filed in Baton Rouge on Tuesday by the Animal Legal Defense Fund.

"Defendants have for decades allowed members of the general public to throw items into Candy's cage, including lit cigarettes that Candy smokes. Just as with humans, cigarette smoking is very harmful for chimpanzees," and letting her smoke violates the Endangered Species Act, the suit states.

The lawsuit is the first filed under a new federal rule that requires captive chimps get the same protection as wild chimps, said Carter Dillard, the group's attorney. That rule, which was made public in June and took effect Sept. 14, changes captive chimps' classification from threatened to endangered, the same classification as wild chimpanzees.

Jennifer Treadway-Morris, attorney for park owner Sam Haynes, said she had not had time to read the lawsuit. However, she said, government agencies such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service cannot make rules retroactive.

She also cited a letter from a veterinarian stating that an attempt to retire Candy to the Baton Rouge Zoo failed.

"She was returned because she couldn't adjust and couldn't assimilate," Treadway-Morris said. "It seems that if they want her to have company, she doesn't want it."

The animal rights group said it went to court for Cathy Breaux, 62, and Holly Reynolds, 96, who have campaigned for decades to get Candy moved from the Dixie Landin' park and its predecessor.

"Cathy and Holly remain upset, distressed and concerned that Candy is isolated throughout the day, deprived of companionship with other chimpanzees, and insufficiently stimulated in her empty cage," the lawsuit states.

It said the women have seen visitors throw lit cigarettes into Candy's cage for the chimp to smoke.

City animal control officials cited the park in 2012 for not providing water for Candy, according to the suit.

"Defendants provide Candy exclusively with Coca-Cola instead, claiming that Candy does not like water. However, Candy has readily accepted and drunk water offered to her by visiting experts. Water, not Coca-Cola, is an essential requirement for chimpanzees," according to the suit.


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Friday, November 13, 2015

Homeless Man breaks into San Luis Obispo County Animal Services Center and Steals His Dog that Was Ordered to be Euthanized by Judge


One day before his pit bull mix was scheduled to be euthanized for reportedly biting two people in separate incidents, a homeless man broke into San Luis Obispo County Animal Services Center and retrieved his dog.

Now, the Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in locating the two, warning residents that the dog has a history of attacking people unprovoked.

On Tuesday morning, deputies received a report that a burglary at the animal center in the 800 block of Oklahoma Avenue on the outskirts of San Luis Obispo had occurred during the overnight hours. A staff member there said someone broke into a kennel and took a brown-and-black pit bull mix named Sid, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff’s spokesman Tony Cipolla said Thursday that the dog had been quarantined at the kennel since July, following separate incidents in May and June in which Sid bit a person, resulting in injuries severe enough to require hospital treatment.

A San Luis Obispo judge issued an order in October to have officials euthanize the dog on Wednesday.

Investigators identified 24-year-old Logan Timothy Wilson Stoffle as the main suspect in the break-in. Stoffle has no known city of residence and had regularly visited the dog at the center since July.

Prior to the euthanization order, Stoffle was given an option by the judge to find a permanent private kennel for Sid, but he was unable to do so, Cipolla said.

Cipolla said that despite residents’ feelings toward euthanization, “the fact is, this is a public safety issue. (The dog has) been shown in previous attempts that he will attack unprovoked.”

Officials had not located the pair as of Thursday evening and asked anyone with information of their whereabouts to call 781-4550.


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Sunday, July 12, 2015

Is It Against the Law to Leave a Dog Unattended in a Hot Car? Do You Know the Law for Your State?


Although animal cruelty, neglect, endangerment, and abuse in a variety of forms are illegal in all 50 states, in varying degrees that can earn the offender a simple citation all the way up to a felony charge, only 16 of those states have laws on the books specifically prohibit leaving an animal locked inside a hot car.

Of all fifty states, only Arizona, California, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, and West Virginia have state statutes in place that protect dogs specifically from being trapped in cars.

In the 16 states named above, although it is illegal to leave a dog unattended, it is also unlawful for a concerned citizen to take matters into their own hands.

Of the 16 states that make it illegal to leave a dog in a parked car, only 14 grant permission to either law enforcement, animal control, or other authorized personnel to enter a vehicle.

In New Jersey and West Virginia, although it is illegal to leave a dog trapped in a hot car, no one, not even law enforcement officers, are granted the authority to break into the vehicle to save the dog from dying.

What about those other 34 states?

Although the remaining 34 states may not have laws that specifically make it illegal to leave a dog (or other animal) unattended in a vehicle, all 50 states have laws in place to protect animals from abuse, neglect, and cruelty.

It can be argued that a dog left unattended in a parked car, without protection from extreme heat (or cold), that is suffering or showing signs of distress, is the victim of cruelty.

In other words, even though a dog owner may reside in one of the 34 states without specific laws to protect dogs in hot cars, they can be (and very often are) charged with animal cruelty for doing so.

Additionally, although state laws may not specifically address dogs trapped in hot cars, many county and municipal laws do address the issue. Check with your own city and county to be sure of the exact laws in your area.

So what is a concerned animal lover that spots a dog suffering inside a hot car supposed to do?

Currently, there are zero states that grant legal permission to concerned citizens to break and enter a vehicle to save a distressed animal.

If you see a dog in a parked car, no matter which state or what that state’s laws provide for:

1. Make every reasonable effort possible to locate the dog’s owner.

2. Call local police and animal control and report the incident.

3. Remain with the dog until help arrives.

4. If the dog is in imminent danger and help has not yet arrived, you’ll have to use your own judgement, considering the possible legal ramifications of breaking and entering to save the dog.

Many of us would happily face criminal charges, fines, and possible jail time if it meant saving the life of a dog.
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Thursday, June 25, 2015

Heartbreaking Story: Man Returns Home from Work, Finds a Note on His Doorstep: “My Dog is in Your Backyard, I Cannot Afford Her”


When Houston resident Quincy Bui returned home from work one day, he found a note on his doorstep. The note read: “My dog is in your backyard. I cannot afford her. My husband beats her and I can't let her live with us. I love her too much. Her name is Ruben-May. Thank you."

According to KHOU News, when Bui checked his backyard, he found the abandoned dog, who was suffering from a skin condition and appeared to have been abused. Bui checked his security footage and saw the whole incident unfold on camera.

The footage shows a pickup truck parking outside of Bui’s Houston home and a man getting out with the dog under his arm. The man walks up to the front door and around to the back yard, where he leaves the dog. He then drives away.

“It’s just one of those crazy things,” Bui told reporters. “I don’t know what type of person would do this.”

Bui called animal control and Ruben May was taken to a local shelter. Bui also called the police in hopes of tracking down the person who abandoned the dog in the yard.

So far, the man on the camera has not been identified. For now, Ruben May is waiting patiently at the animal shelter for someone to give her a loving home.


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Saturday, June 13, 2015

American Veterinary Medical Association: Teach Kids How to Deal with Dogs


Last year, 5,767 postal carriers were bitten by dogs, up from 5,581 in 2013, and the most attacks happened in warm and sunny Los Angeles, Houston and San Diego, said Linda DeCarlo, manager of safety for the U.S. Postal Service. None of the bites caused deaths.

The cities’ weather draws pets and people outside and doors and windows get left open, DeCarlo said. The slight rise in bites also stems from the popularity of online shopping because postal workers must bring packages to front doors instead of street-side mailboxes, DeCarlo said.

But the biggest victims are children and senior citizens, who can be overpowered by dogs. Of the 4.5 million people bitten every year, more than half are kids, said Dr. Jose Arce, an American Veterinary Medical Association board member.

Bites kill about 16 people a year. Besides the postal-worker totals, specific numbers on dog bites are lacking because few people seek treatment. And no one tracks bites by breed.

What Not to Do
  • Stare into a dog’s eyes.
  • Tease a dog.
  • Approach one that’s chained up or injured.
  • Touch a dog you don’t know that’s off a leash.
  • Run or scream if one charges.
  • Play with a dog while it’s eating.
  • Touch one while it’s sleeping.
  • Get close to one that’s nursing puppies.
  • Leave a small child alone with a dog, even if it’s the family pet.

What to Do
  • Ask an owner before petting a dog you don’t know.
  • Let the dog sniff your closed fist before touching it.
  • Freeze if a dog runs toward you.
  • Socialize puppies so they are comfortable around people and other animals.
  • Use a leash in public.
How Parents Can Help

When the mail arrives, place your pet in a closed room so it can’t go through a window or screen door to possibly attack the carrier. Tell children not to take mail from the carrier in front of the dog because the animal could see it as threatening.

Also, teach children to treat dogs with respect and avoid rough or aggressive play.

Where Bites Happened

Last year, 74 postal-carrier bites were reported in Los Angeles, followed by Houston with 62 and San Diego with 47, DeCarlo said.

The LA tally rose from 61 bites in 2013, when Houston was No. 1 with 63. San Diego moved up a notch from two years ago, when 53 postal workers were bitten.

The Postal Service didn’t break down the severity of injuries, but 1,540 bites kept employees from work for at least a day after the attack, DeCarlo said.

Insurance Payouts

Bites and other dog-related injuries cost insurers $530 million last year, about a third of their paid claims, the Insurance Information Institute said.

The number of dog-bite claims decreased 4.7 percent from 2013, but the average cost per claim rose by 15 percent because of higher medical costs and settlements. The average claim in 2014 was $32,072, up from $27,862.




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According to a Yearlong Investigation: Dog Bites Are on the Rise in the Washington, DC Area


A fast-rising number of people in the Washington, D.C. area are suffering dog bites or encountering illegally owned pit bulls, according to a yearlong investigation by the News4 I-Team.

The increases, which are sharp and sudden, are partly the result of neglectful owners or people who fail to follow local animal control laws, the I-Team learned in a series of reviews of animal control reports and interviews with animal control officers.

D.C. Department of Health reports, obtained and reviewed by the I-Team, show the number of dog bite incidents in the city has jumped more than 100 percent since 2007. That increase, from 214 bites in 2007 to 457 bites in 2013, is raising alarm among some city residents.

The city’s animal and human populations have increased during the same time span. Field investigators with the Washington Humane Society, which responds to animal complaints in D.C., report some of the increase can also be attributed to owners who neglect to follow leash laws or prevent dogs from straying.

John Fenner, a resident of northeast D.C., said a pair of stray pit bulls attacked him on a sidewalk in his neighborhood in 2013. He suffered a pair of bites to his groin. “If you have an animal not on a leash, not monitored, you cannot actually predict how they behave,” he said.

Prince George’s County Animal Control officials said the number of stray dogs has plateaued in the county. But the I-Team’s review of county animal shelter reports shows a 150 percent increase in the number of pit bull seizures since 2009. Pit bulls are an unlawful breed of dog to own in the county. Those seizures, up from 192 five years ago to 427 last year, are also an indication of pet owners who neglect to follow local animal control laws, officials said.

Rodney Taylor, associate director of the county’s Animal Management Division, said his shelter in Upper Marlboro houses 30 to 35 pit bulls each day. “They’re illegal,” Taylor said. “You cannot have them. (This problem) goes back to the owner.”

In a series of reviews of D.C. and Prince George’s County animal control operations, conducted over 12 months, the I-Team witnessed a long series of animal control officer responses to stray dogs and pit bull calls. In several instances, stray dogs ran free on busy D.C. and Maryland streets.

A spokesman for the Washington Humane Society said the increase in reported bites is at least partly attributable to his organization’s role investigating dog complaints, which began in 2011, he said. “We’ve heightened the community’s awareness about animal problems,” he said. “People recognized that we have a structured reporting program.”

During cold winter mornings and hot summer afternoons, the I-Team spotted animals placed outdoors in yards for extended periods of time. Those issues of neglect can lead to biting incidents, animal control officers reported.

The I-Team’s review found the number of animal control calls has sharply increased in D.C. Animal control officers responded to more than 18,000 calls in the city last year, a 3,000 call increase since 2010.


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