Expected high heat and humidity are a dangerous combination for pets

This weekend will be Too Hot (and Too Humid) for Spot!

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) advises that hot and very humid weather is expected through Saturday. Rounds of showers and thunderstorms are expected with heavy rainfall in the Greater Boston Area at times until Monday. The combination of high heat and humidity will make it feel like it is 100 and 105 degrees during the afternoons.

Follow these 4 tips to ensure your pet stays safe and cool this weekend:

1. Leave your pet at home. We all like to spend time with our pets, but in weather like this, traveling with your pet can put them at risk. If you are heading out and know that you cannot take your pet into the store, the post office, the dry cleaner, or other destination, then please leave your pet at home.
2. Don’t leave your pet in any vehicle – even with the windows cracked. Even a few minutes in a vehicle can result in dangerous and deadly conditions for your pet. Leaving the windows open does not help!  Dogs and cats cannot sweat. Vehicle temperatures can quickly rise to over 145 degrees in less than 20 minutes. Heat stroke and death for your pet can quickly follow, especially if your pet is older, overweight, or has a physical ailment.
3. Avoid mid-day outdoor activities. When walking or playing with your pet outside, try to do so early in the morning or after the sun has set.  Always make sure that fresh cool water is available for your pet.
4.  Prepare your pet for thunderstorms. Hot and humid days often bring booming thunderstorms with flashing lightning. If your pet shows signs of anxiety during a storm, consider putting them in an enclosed room (with no windows) and create a comfortable and safe environment. Turning on music or “white noise” machine can help muffles other noises. If these techniques don’t work, you might consider speaking with your vet.

Learn more about hot weather pet prepardeness at arlboston.org/summersafety

ARL’s Nadine Pellegrini collaborates alongside local & national animal welfare organizations to lobby important bills

On Tuesday, June 28 the Senate passed three important bills strengthening protection for animals and promoting animal welfare.

THESE BILLS INCLUDED…

(S. 2369) – An Act to Prevent Animal Suffering and Death

This bill will give law enforcement/first responders and citizens the ability to intervene early on when an animal is at risk of injury and/or death.

Amends Anti-Tethering Statute

• Under the law as it currently stands, a person can tether their dog for up to 24 consecutive hours. 24 hours is far too long for a dog to be chained up. The law is essentially unenforceable.
• The new law prohibits confining/tethering an animal for longer than 5 hours in a 24 hour period and prohibits tethering outside from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
• The new law prohibits tethering outside if there is a weather advisory or if there is extreme heat, cold, wind, rain, snow or hail which causes a risk to health or safety of the dog based on the dog’s breed, age or physical condition. Under those conditions, the dog cannot be tethered for more than 15 minutes and during that 15 minutes, the owner must be with the dog.
• The new law gives law enforcement personnel from the Animal Rescue League of Boston (ARL) and MSPCA the ability to write citations (with increased fines) for violations of any provision of the anti-tethering statute.

Creates a new law to address pets in vehicles – This will be familiar to all who are aware of ARL’s “Too Hot for Spot” campaign. The bill creates a new law which not only punishes violators who leave their pets in vehicles during extreme hot or cold weather but it gives first responders, such as police, fire, and rescue, a clear directive that they can intervene and rescue an animal from a dangerous situation. The bill covers new ground by also allowing non-law enforcement people, under specific conditions, to rescue an animal from a vehicle.

(S. 2370) – “An Act Relative to Protecting Puppies and Kittens”

This bill seeks to prevent the sale of dogs or cats less than eight weeks of age; updates the “Puppy Lemon Law” to give pet owners more options if they unknowingly purchase a sick pet; regulates certain breeders; and prevents pet shops from obtaining puppies and kittens from USDA breeders with multiple violations of the Animal Welfare Act.

(S. 2375) – An Act protecting abandoned animals in vacant properties

This bill directs landlords, property managers, and owners — when they know or reasonably should know that property has been vacated, abandoned or foreclosed — to inspect properties within 3 days to check for the presence of abandoned animals. The bill also provides for monetary penalties if the properties are not checked.

THE NEXT STEP…

Now that these important bills have passed the Senate, the next step is to get these bills passed in the House of Representatives. We need your help…Please contact your state reps to express your support for these truly important bills. A list of members of the House of Representatives and their contact info can be viewed at https://malegislature.gov/People/House.

SPECIAL THANKS…to MA senators for choosing to protect our state’s animals!