These brutal temperatures are usually not solely harmful for folks however for animals and wildlife additionally.
Several calls into the Oklahoma City Animal Welfare are prompting them to take further steps to maintain animals protected.
“Our previous ordinance, all it required is that they have a doghouse, and so as long as there was a doghouse provided, even if they were freezing, there wasn’t anything we could do,” Jon Gary, the Superintendent of OKC Animal Welfare, mentioned.
He mentioned they couldn’t shield animals the way in which they wanted to be throughout final yr’s winter storm. Sadly, inflicting some animals to die in excessive temperatures.
“In February of last year, we had some of the coldest temperatures we’ve ever seen here in Oklahoma, and we were getting a lot of calls for dogs left out in the cold that were in danger,” Gary mentioned.
A brand new ordinance handed this yr with some new pointers for pet house owners throughout freezing temperatures.
“The extreme temperatures can be really hard on animals, both companion animals, farm animals and wildlife,” Kristy Wicker, the Education & Communications Manager for WildCare Oklahoma, mentioned.
Since the brand new ordinance, house owners are usually not allowed to go away their pet exterior for greater than half-hour.
“Obviously, dogs have to be let outside to go the restroom, some just enjoy being outside. We understand that there are particular breeds that can withstand particular temperatures, so our officers are able to evaluate those situations,” mentioned Gary.
Even if they’ve shelter, they want a correct warmth supply.
“You don’t want to just stick a regular space heater inside of a doghouse, that is not going to work. It needs to be something safe for the dog,” he mentioned.
While the WildCare Foundation doesn’t at all times work with cats and canine, they’re warning folks with bigger livestock to take further care.
“It’s a challenge because people don’t want to be out with those temperatures either but whenever you have animals outside you need to make sure they are caring for them,” mentioned Wicker.
People inside Oklahoma City limits who don’t abide by the ordinance will be fined as much as $500 in the event that they refuse to carry their pet in.
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