Animal Cruelty Laws protect animals from being left outside during cold temperatures like this.
Former White County Prosecutor Bruce Macleod said failing to follow laws regarding structures for outdoor dogs can result in a Class A misdemeanor. Macleod said cold weather animal cruelty laws can lead to almost a year in jail.
“They probate these sentences a long time, so you got a year of probation, you can do community service,” Macleod said. “You know depending on, just depending on the penalty that’s not required but sometimes the DA will ask for things like that. Do some community service, probably work at the animal shelter or something like that.”
Macleod said under the provision for cruelty to animals, from November to February, measures must be taken to protect dogs from the cold in order to help them retain body heat. Macleod said if you have a dog that stays outside, the law requires you to provide a properly built dog house. Mcleod said the dog house must have some sort of insulation or warming device inside.
“The dog house has to have three sides or four sides, but three sides that are shut completely and then one side that can open up,” Macleod said. “ And the dog has to be able to, it can’t be too small. It has to fit the dog where the dog can stand up.”
Macleod said if you see a dog outside or feel like a dog is in danger, please report the dog to the police.
“We don’t want to be cruel to these animals and we don’t want them to be harmed in any way,” Macleod said. “So if you’re driving by someone’s house and there’s a dog staked out in the middle of the yard, just laying is snow day in and day out, there might be a problem.”
Macleod is a partner at JMG Law Offices.
