A polar vortex has plunged much of the nation into a deep freeze. Animal advocates across the states have been very concerned about the welfare of animals being left outside. Some states have issued warnings against those who do not do what is right for their pets.
In my home state, the following was issued yesterday:
“The Pennsylvania State Police have issued a news release warning that criminal charges will be filed against pet owners who fail to provide their animals with sufficient shelter, food and water.” The temperatures tomorrow night will reach below negative 40 with the wind chill. PLEASE provide a warm place for your pets. If you are reported the State Police are issuing fines and Criminal Charges.
In Longview, Texas, a dog was found dead, chained with no shelter, food nor water frozen to the ground this morning. The people who were responsble for this innocent dog will be charged with misdemeanor charges. There will be no felony charges because their law doesn’t allow it. This has outraged many.
Another very hot and controversial story is of the Flat Creek Border Collie Puppy Farm , Kappy Road, in Sprakers, New York owned by Kathy and Hubert Weich, where the border collie dogs (seen in picture) are living in freezing temperatures. Advocates across the nation are hot and steamed unlike the dogs because nothing had been done to help them. The dogs live outside with minimal shelter. Some have eight-week old puppies living in plastic barrels turned over on their sides. Senior dogs also are forced to live outside in these horrid conditions.
Beginning at the end of last year, a public outrage began because of the impending weather that was going to adversely impact the dogs. Advocates sprang into action with the New York Police Department being called to help the dogs. The police inspected this facility many times and issued a statement via Maj. Steven James who stated that this kennel appeared to conform to state law.
How could the police possibly say these dogs were okay to stay in these conditions when left outside wth most of the nation enduring the arctic blast of cold air?
The state law in New York appears to be ambiguous, at the very least. “Under the Minimal Standards of Animal Care, it reads: The temperature surrounding the animal shall be compatible with the health and well-being of the animal. Temperature shall be regulated to protect each animal from extremes and shall not be permitted to fall below ranges which would pose a health hazard to the animal.”
“It’s a terrible situation, it’s a dastardly situation,” opined Assemblyman Jim Tedisco (R – Glenville) “They may be living up to the tip of the letter of the law, but certainly ethically and morally this is no way to treat animals.”
Tedisco says, unfortunately, the Ag & Markets law pertaining to the treatment of animals is too vague.
“We can pass a law to try and put in every dimension possible of how you could be cruel to an animal but that would be impossible,” Tedisco says. “It’s just like anything else. We know when there is cruelty to animals and this is an illustration of what cruelty looks like in terms of animals.”
Thanks to advocates and social media and not the ASPCA, HSUS, PETA or any large animal organization, all but four dogs have finally been removed as of today. The owner of the puppy mill is now facing charges for the way the dogs were kept in the cold weather, according to NewsChannel 13, WYNT, Albany, New York.
“Herbert Weich is charged failing to provide adequate shelter for the dogs. The charges come after pictures and video showed the dogs living outdoors in large plastic barrels as the cold snap hit.
State Police had been to the site a few times to investigate. They said the barrels were adequately heated, and no laws were being broken.
On Tuesday (January 7th), a preliminary hearing was held in Montgomery County Court to determine if the dogs should be seized.
The owner Herbert Weich agreed to comply with an agreement between the Attorney general and the Montgomery county SPCA. 40 adults dogs will be removed from the property and placed in the care of the SPCA. The owner has until January 21st to build 24 new dog houses for shelter at his property outside. Also he must have adequate food and water for the 30 dogs still on the property. If he makes the changes the 40 dogs that were removed will be returned to his property and placed back in his care.
While many are applauding that most of the dogs were removed, the fact remains that the dogs will be returned to live in similar circumstances if the owner builds new dog houses.
Is this a victory or a way to make the media and advocates go away? What do you think? The police will certainly say the dogs are living in better conditions when and if they are called again (in the future) if the owners meet the criteria of the agreement which is only putting a bandaid on a horrendous condition?
If other police departments could issue fines and charges to those who didn’t provide sufficient shelter, food, or water for their pets during this frigid cold weather, how could the New York Police Department turn a blind eye to the obvious?
Victory or defeat?
Because no one wants to get involved anynmore. Let the the animals suffer, freeze and die. The police protected the breeders from those who wanted to protect the dogs. What message does that send?
If those dogs get returned to this horrible place, it will be the same as usual. Look at PA. Who will enforce to see if the dogs are ok? Police? Nope. SPCA? Nope. Where were they before this? This solves nothing.
You actually reported this very well.
This is a temporary fix for a permanent problem. Why the police did nothing until that wan an outcry shows the ignornance or the uncaringngess of the policde dep’t. If the Weich’s comply, the exact same dogs will be living outside. What good has come of this? Someone tell me please!
Hopefully, the dogs won’t get returned. Hopefully, the owners won’t build dog houses. I don’t understand how a judge, the SPCA and the police are ok with dog houses for these dogs. They should be kept inside and away from the bitter cold. This makes no sense. Most judges don’t. They could care less about the welfare of animals.
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Hi there, I just wanted to tell you, I disagree. Your point doesn’t make any sense.
defeat. Even if the dogs aren’t returned, he still has some dogs. Even if he didn’t have any dogs, he will get more. It’s what hoarders and puppy millers know and do. look at Derbe Skip Eckhart. Forbiddent to have animals after his conviction. He goes to jail and ends up getting more animals. Easy money because the dogs are treated like dirt so they make more puppies to sell in pet stores.
Let the couple live outside in these temperatures and see if they’d survive. This is only one of thousands of backyard breeders, puppy mills or hoarders in the U. S., time to outlaw them completely!
Louis, what is it that you disagree with me? Why don’t I make sense? Thank you.
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