Law Requires Ohio Dog Houses Be Waterproofed

[matcom]

<snip>

OLMSTED FALLS, Ohio -- Dogs in this Cleveland suburb have something to bark about.

City Council unanimously approved a law Tuesday requiring doghouses to be waterproof and lined with bedding that resists dampness. The houses also must be equipped with self-closing doors or flaps.

Removed from the final law was a provision that required dog owners to bring their pets inside if the temperature dips below 20 degrees.

Violators of the law, which will take effect within 10 days, can lose their dogs and face maximum penalties of 90 days in jail and a $700 fine.

http://www.boston.com/news/odd/articles/2004/02/11/ohio_town_requires_waterproof_doghouses/

[joeybee12]

1. Good! Equal rights for dogs! Some people show absolutely no

responsibility when it comes to their pets!

[Robb]

2. I'm glad they dropped that last provision

...at 20 degrees my dogs still think it's a little warm for exercise. :)

[spinbaby]

4. Depends on the dog

Our neighbor's dog, a husky-chow mix, has a dog door and can go inside anytime she wants. I've seen her napping outside on the front porch in 0° weather. But these dogs are the exception.

I think the point to this law is, that every dog should have shelter if he wants it even if he may prefer the cold.

[Robb]

6. Exactly

...which is why the bit about bringing all dogs inside would've been silly.

All dogs need shelter when they want it, and all dogs should have the choice to hang out in the rain/snow if they want to, also. I'm going to lobby Mrs. Robb (my very own town council member!) to see if such a thing could be passed here. :)

[hlthe2b]

9. By the way, Robb. Do you spray PAM on your dog's paws (between

pads) to keep them from freezing on long icy/snowy excursions? I'm told a lot of Iditarod sledders do this and just wonder how well it works?

[Robb]

11. Foot balms

...specific formulas, are about the most closely guarded secrets in the doggin' world. ;)

Thankfully, I've never had to. I don't run for more than a few hours at a time, and the pads are the hottest spot on a husky. "Snowballing", or basically the melting and re-freezing of ice and snow in their pads, is more common in kennels where they don't groom their fuzzy little feet.

I'm experimenting this winter, actually, in not trimming the winter hair growth on one of my doggies' feet, to see if she has problems. None so far, but her paws look like they came off a muppet! :)

[hlthe2b]

8. Sure, Robb... But for the short haired, temperate clime dogs...

they should be brought in! Yours and other husky, malamute, Newfoundland and similar cool clime dogs are just getting cozy when it is below 20.


My little Aussie/Lab mix loves her snow and cold crisp days... But after a few hours, she's mighty happy to have a Mom who will towel her off, make sure she has a nice big bowl of food, and tuck her into her nice warm little bed inside!

[Bronco69]

3. It's about time!

It gets frickin COLD in Ohio! Those people who keep their dogs outside don't even deserve to have a dog.

[LosinIt]

5. Shame they don't give the same consideration to PEOPLE

Don't get me wrong, I am thrilled about the law, there wa a similar one passed somewhere near here. But, they can still allow people to live in cardboard boxes, maybe not in Cleveland, but in many places in this country.

[hlthe2b]

10. Yes, LosinIt, I agree. But we are the carekeepers for these animals...

who we have so changed that they no longer can fend for themselves. So, by all rights, this needed to be a top priority.

[jukes]

7. Good law

and a nice post, Matcom.


:thumbsup: