While Pittsburgh and the surrounding areas have experienced a bit of a warmup the past few weeks, winter is far from over, and cold weather is still on the horizon.
With that being said, this is a friendly reminder to keep your dogs safe during the cold weather.
In Pennsylvania, it is illegal to leave a dog tethered outside for more than 30 minutes when the temperature is below 32 degrees. In Pittsburgh, this also applies to untethered dogs. This law is part of Libre’s Law, which was signed into effect in 2017.
Violating Libre’s Law can result in a fine or jail time. The severity of the penalty depends on the circumstances.
If you come across a dog left out in the cold for longer than the allotted time, you can do the following: note the time, date, location and type of animal; take photos or videos of the animal, the location and the surrounding area; and contact your local animal control agency or the county sheriff’s office. Documentation is so important because many times owners will tell the authorities that they just let the dog out.
Please remember to treat your dogs like members of the family. You wouldn’t leave Grandma out in the cold, would you?
Aimee Douglass
Monroeville