Animal Shelters Overwhelmed with Calls on Freezing Pets

PRLog (Press Release) – Dec 17, 2007 – It’s that time of year again and shelters nationally are overwhelmed with calls on dogs being tied outside in the freezing cold and the large number of stray and homeless cats. “It is with much sadness that we get call after call after call and emails from concerned citizens about dogs being chained outside…especially in this weather,” states Leigh Grady, Executive Director.

“As we wake up cozy and warm on this bitterly cold morning, I find myself anguishing over the same thoughts once again. Since the weather turned to subzero temperatures, I cannot eliminate the overwhelming feelings of empathy and desperation for the countless animals forced to endure a torturous existence by the hands of cruel, sadistic "owners" who willfully neglect their basic physiological and psychological needs,” Grady continues.

There is no sadder sight than these outcast, forlorn, forgotten animals, relegated to the status of lawn ornaments and virtually ignored by the family. They lack fresh, unfrozen water, adequate housing, hygiene and the most basic veterinary care, including vaccinations required by law. Every winter such animals are found frozen to death.
The outside dog has no one to play with, no one to sleep with, no one to do anything with. Further, dogs do not have our resources. They can't read. They can't watch television. Dogs handle this in a number of ways: some get depressed and just lay around or sleep all the time, others go stir crazy and barking excessively, dig, or chew, maybe even tear up anything and everything they can find, still others, become escape artists.

What is that saying - home is where the heart is?

Every dog needs emotional, mental and physical stimulation and it needs more than five or ten minutes a day. It needs to be part of a pack, whether the pack is human or canine. “Would you honestly want to live your outside dog's life? Sitting, outside, in a confined area or on a chain, by yourself hour after hour, day after day, week after week, year after year, waiting for someone to feed and water you, pat you on your head once or twice and then leave again? Can you honestly say that does not sound like a horrible, lonely and monotonous existence?” Grady continues.

If you have a dog or KNOW OF A DOG, living outside, by himself, give some thought to the dog's quality of life and the dangers it may face such as coyotes, fisher cats and cruel people. If you want to keep this dog, consider making him/her an inside dog. If you are not willing to make your dog an inside dog, consider finding your dog another home, where its needs will be met. If you see a dog that is being tied outside without proper housing and care, please call your local animal shelter or animal control officer. If YOU don’t…who will?

“Please remember…pets feel cold and heat just as we humans do. If we are outside and we’re cold… then chances are that the pets are cold, too! Sure they have fur coats…but our winter coats don’t do much for us when we’ve been exposed to the elements for more than a few minutes…a cold, lonely, outside pet deserves more than a dog house…” Grady finished.

Leigh Grady
Executive Director
Animal Shelter Inc. of Sterling
staff@sterlingshelter.org