As sweltering summer heat roars through many parts of the world, including in the U.S., some pet owners are forgetting the effect that extreme weather can have on animals. That was the case
in Kentucky, where a man left two dogs chained up outside - despite extreme heat. The dogs had no access to shade, and no ability to escape to cooler locations.
And as a result of this,
one of the dogs is now dead.Sign the petition to demand that Kentucky strengthen its animal protection laws, to include prohibitions on tethering dogs outside in extreme weather!Concerned citizens noticed the dogs chained up outside and called authorities, who arrived at the property to investigate. One dog was still alive - though severely overheated.
The other dog had been so thoroughly baked by the sun, investigators couldn't even determine its body temperature. The medical thermometer they brought had a maximum limit of 111 degrees Fahrenheit (44 degrees Celsius), but the deceased animal's internal body temperature soared past that number and became unreadable.
There is no excuse for locking up an animal outside in such brutal temperatures and then simply abandoning them to their fate. Being outside at all in that weather is dangerous, but with a tether attached, an animal can't even seek safety somewhere else -
they're trapped.Kentucky authorities have arrested the man on charges of pet torture. But so far, Kentucky doesn't actually have a statewide law on the books that is specifically anti-tethering, or that addresses severe weather.
We have to help ensure that future pets remain safe, and that the law is crystal-clear on pet owners' responsibilities to ensure their animals' well-being. Sign the petition to demand that Kentucky state lawmakers pass a law clarifying the harm of tethering animals in severe weather, and banning this practice!