Animals still suffering in frigid temperatures despite media warnings and ordinances

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The 2017/2018 winter season has been one of the coldest on record in most states across the nation.  Not only are the frigid temperatures making headlines, but more tragically, the deaths of dogs left outdoors in these freezing temperatures.

According to an article in the Washington Post   police in Hartford, Connecticut charged a woman with animal cruelty when a dog was found frozen solid, chained to a small shelter outside the home, on New Year’s Day. Several other deaths occurred in Ohio. In Toledo, a dog was found frozen to death on a front porch. Three other dogs were found frozen in Franklin County, Ohio, and authorities in Butler County, north of Cincinnati, charged the owners of another dog who also froze to death with cruelty to a companion animal.

Why does this keep happening? With all the warnings out there advising of the dangers of leaving dogs outside in frigid temperatures, and ordinances and laws in place in every state, why is there still a high death toll every season?

Is it because the laws on the books are not being enforced by those in authority to enforce them? Is it because those in authority are not taking a proactive stance for the welfare of the animal? Instead of just giving a warning citation, should they not just seize the dog immediately and take it to a safe haven? Are calls and complaints from citizens concerned for the welfare of the dogs going unheeded?

A citizen in Galloway Township, New Jersey has been fighting for two dogs that live on Dahlia Avenue.  The dogs have been left outside 24/7 for the past four years. She has reported these dogs to the Atlantic County SPCA and the Galloway Police seven times -just in January of 2018. On January 6th during a deep freeze and thirteen inches of snow, the dogs were still outside in their dog houses.  The owner told the police that the dogs were outside dogs, have never been inside and would remain outside.  The police officers told the complainant that it was okay for the dogs to be out there, and they appeared to look well taken care of although it was four degrees outside and the officers had to walk across sheets of ice to get to the dog houses.

Ironically, the owner of these two dogs was in direct violation of the Galloway Township ordinance specifically stating that dogs cannot be tethered outdoors longer than nine hours in a 24-hour period. Also, his dogs are not licensed nor are they vaccinated. After the Good Samaritan placed multiple calls regarding the deplorable conditions the dogs were living in, the owner placed a piece of plywood in front of his fence to block anyone from seeing the dogs from the road.

To further affirm his lack of caring or compassion for his dogs, he has refused all donations of blankets to keep his dogs warm in the below freezing temperatures. A Good Samaritan took a bag of blankets and quilts with a note attached saying “for your dogs.” All the blankets and quilts were thrown in the trash as soon as they were received. This man is of the mindset that he would rather walk further to the curb to dispose of the blankets than give any comfort to his dogs. And the Good Samaritan was told by the police she would be charged with harassment if she didn’t stay away from the property.

Whose side is the justice system on? When speaking to Nancy Beall of the Atlantic County SPCA and asking her what they are doing regarding these two dogs, she advised their cruelty investigator is actively investigating the case as well as the lack of licensing and shots. According to Nancy, and in her own words; she thinks no dog should be left outdoors and it is “absolutely disgusting” when people leave their dogs outside in the frigid, inclement weather. Hopefully these two dogs will soon be removed from the resident on Dahlia and he will not be allowed to have or own any other animals in the future.

When the author of this article contacted Galloway Township Mayor and Animal Control Office regarding their lack of enforcement for their own ordinances, they did not respond.


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12 COMMENTS

  1. I don’t know how people can do this. My dogs are family!!! And that being said, family is in-doors in this bad weather.

  2. So, this POS is violating a bunch of laws by having unlicensed, unvaccinated dogs AND keeping them tethered more than 9 hours in a 24-hour period PLUS leaving them outside in frigid temperatures. Even though he’s breaking the law, the tethering issue is moot in this point, in my opinion, because 9 hours in frigid temperatures is WAY too long for these dogs—-9 MINUTES is long enough so they can go potty and that’s it. Why have dogs if you’re going to keep them outside 24/7???

    • Darla, under the new State of New Jersey revisions enacted in August of 2017, they CANNOT be left our overnight between 2300 and 0500, nor in “adverse environmental conditions for more than 30 minutes” (defined as when the ambient temperature is 32 degrees Fahrenheit or below in the immediate vicinity of a dog, domestic companion animal, or service animal, or there are other cold weather or precipitation-related environmental conditions, including, but not limited to, wind, rain, snow, ice, sleet, or hail, such that a person should reasonably know would pose an adverse risk to the health or safety of a dog, domestic companion animal, or service animal, based on the animal’s size, age, physical condition, or thickness of the animal’s hair or fur; or (2) when the ambient temperature is 90 degrees Fahrenheit or above in the immediate vicinity of a dog, domestic companion animal, or service animal, or a dog, domestic companion animal, or service animal is exposed to direct sunlight or hot pavement or any other hot surfaces, such that a person should reasonably know would pose an adverse risk to the health or safety of the animal, based on the animal’s size, age, physical condition, or thickness of the animal’s hair or fur.

      (pertinent sections cited below):

      3. (News section) a. It is unlawful for any person to cruelly restrain a dog.

      b. A person cruelly restrains a dog if the person tethers a dog:

      (2) outdoors between the hours of 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.
      (4) in a manner that does not permit the dog continuous access to water in a sanitary and liquid state whenever the dog is tethered for more than 30 minutes;
      (5) in a manner that exposes the dog to adverse environmental conditions for more than 30 minutes;
      (9) with a tether that is less than 15 feet in length or which does not permit the dog to walk at least 15 feet in any one direction; or
      (10) with a tether that permits the dog to reach another dog or an object or location that poses a risk of entanglement, strangulation, drowning, or other harm to the health or safety of the dog, including, but not limited to, another dog’s tether or a window sill, fence, wall, porch, terrace railing, vehicle, tree, pole, pool, or public road or highway.

      c. Paragraphs (2), (9), and (10) of subsection b. of this section shall not apply if any person, including the dog’s owner or the person with custody or control of the dog:

      (1) is in the presence of the dog at all times while the dog is tethered, whether indoors or outdoors; and
      (2) can see the dog at all times while the dog is tethered, unless the dog’s owner or the person with custody or control of the dog is blind or visually impaired so that the person cannot see the dog due to the blindness or visual impairment, in which case the owner or person with custody or control of the animal shall remain immediately adjacent to the dog at all times while the dog is tethered.

      5. (New section) a. Proper shelter for a dog, domestic companion animal, or service animal shall be a structure or other type of protection that meets, at a minimum, the following standards and requirements:

      (1) It provides at all times (a) adequate ventilation to allow the dog, domestic companion animal, or service animal to remain dry and maintain a normal body temperature, (b) access to water in a sanitary and liquid state, (c) exposure to natural or artificial light according to a regular cycle of day and night, (d) sufficient space so that the dog, domestic companion animal, or service animal can easily turn around in a full circle and lie down on the animal’s side with limbs outstretched, and (e) at least three inches of empty space above the head of the dog, domestic companion animal, or service animal when the animal is in a normal sitting or standing position in the proper shelter, the top of the head of the animal cannot touch the ceiling of the proper shelter ;
      (2) It is maintained in a manner to minimize the accumulation of any waste, other debris, precipitation, or other moisture inside, surrounding, and underneath any area or structure providing proper shelter, and to provide reasonable protection from flooding;
      (3) It is soundly constructed to prevent the sagging or collapse of any part of the structure or protection, and is maintained in good repair with no exposed sharp points or edges;
      (4) It remains in an upright position at all times;
      (5) In the event of adverse environmental conditions as set forth in paragraph (1) of the definition of that term in section 1 of this act, it is an enclosed structure that has (a) a solid roof, solid walls with a single opening no larger than necessary to allow the dog, domestic companion animal, or service animal to comfortably enter and exit the structure, and a floor that is not the ground, and (b) insulation, dry bedding, and a windbreak at the entrance that are sufficient to keep the dog, domestic companion animal, or service animal dry and maintain the animal’s normal body temperature.

      I hope the citizen fighting for those two precious companions is armed with these citations of law, when next challenging the authorities to ACT AND ENFORCE THE LAW… before they, too, fall victim to the senseless, uncaring individual who treats them so abhorrently!
      .

      • Super work! If I lived in that area, I would file a suit against people involved and make so much noise that they could not ignore it. TV stations need to be involved, radio stations, and anybody else that can create a squeaky wheel cause they are the only things that get noticed!

  3. I am INCENSED by the blind indifference of the Galloway Township authorities, police, and the Atlantic County SPCA to these clear violations of common sense, basic decency and consideration, and animal abuse statues! Just this past August (2017), Gov. Christie signed into law sweeping ANTI-CRUELTY legislation adding substantial language and penalties for violation of shelter, tethering and inclement weather protection mandates!

    See the entire new law here: http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2016/Bills/S2000/1640_R4.HTM

    CONTACT GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP “OFFICIALS” HERE to voice your outrage!

    Anthony J. Coppola, Jr.
    [email protected]
    Mayor, Republican

    Rich Clute
    [email protected]
    Deputy Mayor, Republican

    Mary Crawford
    [email protected]
    Democrat

    Tony DiPietro
    [email protected]
    Republican

    Jim Gorman
    [email protected]
    Democrat

    Robert Maldonado
    [email protected]
    Republican

    Frank Santo
    [email protected]
    Democrat

    • Shared this contact information on facebook to animal rights groups. I don’t live in this state, but I have a voice and so I emailed these officials and got the information out. Can you help me in posting this on facebook pages who are advocates or is a petitions page or something like that?

  4. Also posted this to the Township of Galloway’s Facebook page ( https://www.facebook.com/GallowayTownship ):

    With New Jersey’s recently (Aug 2017) updated animal protection and cruelty laws, I am INCENSED by the blind indifference of the Galloway Township authorities, police, and the Atlantic County SPCA to the clear violations of common sense, basic decency and consideration, and animal abuse statues represented in the article referenced here. WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR YOU TO ACT SWIFTLY AND DECISIVELY TO UPHOLD NOT ONLY THE LETTER, BUT THE SPIRIT OF THE LAW, and SAVE THESE TWO COMPANIONS???

    https://petrescuereport.com/2018/animals-still-suffering-frigid-temperatures-despite-media-warnings-ordinances/#comment-94531

    • Stephen Phillips, you’re a hero and doing a great service by posting local ordinances. May I suggest that you get involved with your community and get those who are DERELICT IN THEIR DUTY VOTED out in the next election cycle. Sounds like that’s the ONLY way to resolve this. The tax payers in this township are PAYING these lazy idiots to do a job that they’re clearly ignoring. Strength in numbers! Until then, call your local stations, radio and TV, DAILY and ask them to make a statement that it citizens are being ROBBED by these officials. These politicians make a great salary and have BETTER health benefits than the average family. With all due respect, YOU have a lot more power than you’re using.

  5. These states can make all the laws they want – they are not enforced by authorities – apparently this maggot in New Jersey needs a massive dose of street justice since she was allowed to keep dogs outside 24/7 with no shelter, dumped blankets that were supplied by concerned citizens and those good people were the ones authorities threatened. What the hell is the problem in Galloway Township? SPCA can ‘investigate’ all they want – it is time for action, not lip service, Nancy Beall. GET THESE DOGS OUT OF THERE NOW!

    • Nancy Raymond, if you live in this area, may I suggest that you get involved with your community and get those who are DERELICT IN THEIR DUTY VOTED out in the next election cycle. Sounds like that’s the ONLY way to resolve this. The tax payers in this township are PAYING these lazy idiots to do a job that they’re clearly ignoring. Strength in numbers! Until then, call your local stations, radio and TV, DAILY and ask them to make a statement that it citizens are being ROBBED by these officials. These politicians make a great salary and have BETTER health benefits than the average family. With all due respect, YOU have a lot more power than you’re using.

  6. Shared this contact information on facebook to animal rights groups. I don’t live in this state, but I have a voice and so I emailed these officials and got the information out. Can every one on here help me in posting this on facebook pages who are advocates or is a petitions page or something like that?

  7. These dogs should have and must be taken away from these sub human owners. They are vile,heartless scum and police should have removed both dogs immediately. What do they want to do, wait until the dogs die before doing anything? PETA, HSUS ,ASPCA, all should get involved and save theses 2 dogs.

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