Oreo Is a very sad, sweet four year old Catahoula leopard dog who is kept in an outdoor, rat infested cage. Like thousands of other dogs kept outdoors, Oreo is subject to burning sun, freezing cold, torrential rains, and other severe weather. She has no bed — only plywood —to sleep on, and is often without food and water. Her owner rarely lets her leave the cage, so she gets no exercise or ability to run; her urine and feces accumulate until she has no alternative but to lay in them. She has no interaction with people or other dogs. She is dying a slow, torturous death in this terrible outdoor prison, each day no better than the last. Despite numerous visits and citations from animal control, Oreo's owner refuses to improve her environment — and he cannot be compelled to do so because no law exists that provides for minimum standards for outdoor dog environments.
Show your support for "Oreo's Law" — designed to ensure dogs who live outdoors can survive. It specifies that:
-an outdoor enclosure must be at least 2x the length and 3x the width of the dog (as measured from nose to base of tail, and shoulder to shoulder); dog must be able to stand up, turn around and lay down comfortably
- the enclosure must have a solid floor and roof, and provide complete shelter from sun/rain/wind; the enclosure must be cleaned of any excrement every 8 hours
- an outside dog must b moved to a cooler environment when the outside temp exceeds 85 degrees; or to a warmer environment when colder than 40 degrees
- an outside dog must be released from the enclosure at least 2x/day for 20 mins each time
- an outside dog must be fed at least 1x/day and given water at least 3x/day
-an outside dog must have an appropriate surface to lay on (dog bed or elevated hammock)
- an outside dog must have some kind of cognitive/mental stimulation (another dog, toys, etc)
- an outside dog must be kept up-to-date on all vaccines, heartworm and flea/tick prevention
