Aisha Luper of the Town of Tonawanda, New York has recently been charged with animal cruelty. She left both a male and female American Bull Dog mix, “chained to the house with no access to shade or water from 7:30 AM until 12:40 PM” claimed The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) and New York News 4.
 
The SPCA also released a statement stating that “the dog had temperatures so high; they couldn’t even be read by a thermometer, which goes up to 110 degrees.”
 
Many of these incidents in both freezing and over heated cities occur, and activists are bringing up concern in Arizona [and several other states] that the115-degree heat during summer is far too hot for animals and they should be kept inside. According to statistics, "dogs are especially vulnerable to heat-related illness because they can only cool off by panting and through the pads in their feet. A canine's normal body temperature is between 101 to 102.5 degrees. They can only withstand a high body temperature for a short time before suffering nerve damage, heart problems, liver damage, brain damage or even death."
 
Bringing stricter laws and legislation (which includes enforcement) to every state, would be extremely beneficial in saving lives – and prevention of sickness at that.
 
Where the 111th United States Congress hasn't spoken about the issue, several animals rights organization such as Fallen Whiskers of Arizona are discussing the possibility of introducing legislation to keep animals out of these severe heat and weather conditions; where others on the East Coast are fighting to keep dogs in during the chilly winters.
 
Nonetheless, prompt action is needed year round – one part of the year it’s too cold, as then it’s too hot.
 
We can’t only wait for these important organizations to work on legislation introduction, as constituents, voters and concerned citizens we must also express our wants and needs; animal welfare being one of them.

Photo Credit: Seattle-pi