Canines and Excessive Heat

Understanding the impact of excessive heat on dogs is crucial for ensuring their health and well-being. Dogs are particularly susceptible to heat-related illnesses because they have a limited ability to cool themselves down. Unlike humans, dogs primarily regulate their body temperature through panting and limited sweat glands in their paw pads. When exposed to high temperatures for extended periods, dogs can suffer from heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and even organ failure. Symptoms of heat stress in dogs include excessive panting, drooling, lethargy, confusion, vomiting, and, in severe cases, collapse. It is essential to provide ample water, shade, and cool resting places for dogs, especially during hot weather.

The risk is even greater for dogs in animal shelters due to potential stress and limited access to cooling resources. It is recommended that shelter dogs be taken outside for no more than 10 minutes at a time during periods of excessive heat, ideally at various times of the day. This practice helps prevent overheating and ensures that they remain comfortable and safe. By recognizing the signs of heat stress and taking proactive measures, we can protect our canine companions from the dangers of excessive heat and maintain their overall health and well-being.

Don't let your dog look like this dog!

Adverse Weather

Adverse weather conditions can significantly impact dogs, leading to potential health and safety risks. Extreme heat can cause dehydration and heatstroke, while cold weather can lead to frostbite and hypothermia. Thunderstorms and heavy rains may create anxiety and fear, causing some dogs to become disoriented or attempt to escape. It's crucial to provide adequate shelter, water, and comfort for dogs during such conditions, ensuring they are kept safe and secure. Regular monitoring and appropriate protective measures can help mitigate these risks and promote the well-being of our canine companions.

The basic definition of adverse weather conditions refers to situations where the ambient temperature is 32 degrees Fahrenheit or below, or there are other cold weather or precipitation-related conditions such as wind, rain, snow, ice, sleet, or hail that a reasonable person would recognize as posing a risk to the health or safety of a dog, domestic companion animal, or service animal, considering its size, age, physical condition, or the thickness of its hair or fur. Additionally, adverse conditions include when the ambient temperature is 90 degrees Fahrenheit or above, or when the animal is exposed to direct sunlight, hot pavement, or other hot surfaces that a reasonable person would recognize as posing a risk to the animal's health or safety, based on the same factors.

Blacktops and Canines

No dog should walk on blacktop during hot weather, as it can quickly reach temperatures above 120°F, causing burns to their paws within 60 seconds, even when the air temperature is only 77°F. When your dog is walking or running beside you on a hot day, their paws may be burning, and they could suffer severe injuries. Even as little as five minutes on hot blacktop can be fatal to your loving canine companion, as their whole body starts to overheat. Despite the pain, they will keep going beside you because they are loyal, loving creatures. They depend on you to understand and act in their best interest. Ensuring your dog has a cool area with grass to walk on, adequate shade, and protection from the heat is crucial to prevent injury. Remember, their safety and well-being are in your hands. A simple walk on hot blacktop can cause significant harm, so always opt for cooler, shaded areas to keep your furry friend safe and comfortable.

Proper Shelter 

BASICS

NJSA 4:22-17.5

For a shelter to be considered proper for a dog that has been outside for more than 1/2 hour (depending on the canine's age, condition, health, length of hair/fur, etc.), it must meet several detailed criteria to ensure the dog's health, safety, and well-being:

1. Ventilation: The shelter must have adequate ventilation at all times to allow the dog to remain dry and maintain a normal body temperature. This can be achieved through vents, windows, or other openings that promote airflow without compromising the shelter's protective qualities.
2. Water Access: The dog must always have access to water that is sanitary and in a liquid state. This means that the water bowl should be kept clean, filled regularly, and protected from freezing in cold weather or overheating in hot weather.
3. Lighting: The shelter should provide exposure to natural or artificial light according to a regular cycle of day and night. This ensures the dog maintains a normal circadian rhythm, which is important for their overall health and well-being.
4. Space: The shelter must offer sufficient space so that the dog can:
- Turn around in a full circle easily.
- Lie down on its side with limbs outstretched.
- Sit normally without the top of its head touching the ceiling.
5. Maintenance: The shelter must be maintained in a manner that minimizes the accumulation of waste, debris, precipitation, and other moisture inside, surrounding, and underneath the structure. This helps to keep the environment clean and reduces the risk of health issues related to unsanitary conditions. Additionally, the shelter should provide reasonable protection from flooding to keep the dog dry and safe.
6. Construction: The shelter should be soundly constructed to prevent any part of the structure from sagging or collapsing. It should be built with durable materials and maintained in good repair, with no exposed sharp points or edges that could injure the dog. The shelter must remain upright at all times, ensuring stability and security for the dog.
7. Adverse Environmental Conditions: In the event of adverse weather conditions, the shelter must provide:
- A solid roof and solid walls with a single opening no larger than necessary for the dog to comfortably enter and exit.
- A floor that is not the ground, to keep the dog elevated and dry.
- Insulation, dry bedding, and a windbreak at the entrance to keep the dog dry and help maintain its normal body temperature.
These features ensure the dog is protected from extreme temperatures, wind, rain, hail, and snow.  Remember, rain and wind happen all year long.
8. Cooling: The shelter must provide adequate shade or another cooling area, either by natural or artificial means, to allow the dog to maintain a normal body temperature. This is crucial in hot weather to prevent heatstroke and other heat-related illnesses.

By ensuring these elements are in place, the shelter will provide a safe, comfortable, and healthy environment for dogs that spend significant time outdoors, catering to their physical and psychological needs.

Prohibited Use of Pallets in Canine Enclosures

Proper shelter for canines cannot be made from pallets, nor can pallets be present in any canine enclosure. There are several reasons for this prohibition:

  1. Chemical Treatment: Pallets are typically made from pressure-treated wood to prevent insect infestation and mold. The chemicals used in this treatment are harmful and pose significant health risks to animals.
  2. Physical Hazards: Pallets often have sharp edges that can injure animals. The design of pallets, with their slats, does not provide adequate protection from environmental elements such as direct sunlight, rain, snow, hail, or wind.
  3. Legal Prohibition: The use of pressure-treated wood in canine shelters is specifically prohibited under NJSA 4:22-17. This regulation ensures that canines are provided with safe and appropriate shelter.

Ensuring the safety and well-being of canines involves adhering to these guidelines and providing shelters that meet all regulatory standards. Avoid using pallets and ensure that any shelter structure is made from safe, non-toxic materials that provide full protection from the elements.

Understanding Adverse Environmental Conditions for Dogs

There are serious concerns regarding dogs that are outside most of the time, especially related to adverse environmental conditions. Your local law enforcement agency may or may not be aware of these issues. If you notice any of these conditions, call your local law enforcement agency and report it. Your voice can help a canine in need. Understanding the legal definitions and standards is crucial to effectively advocate for a dog’s well-being.

Adverse Environmental Conditions:
Adverse environmental conditions include situations where the ambient temperature is 32 degrees Fahrenheit or below, or when there are other cold weather conditions such as wind, rain, snow, ice, sleet, or hail that pose a risk to the health or safety of the dog, domestic companion animal, or service animal. Additionally, conditions are considered adverse when the ambient temperature is 90 degrees Fahrenheit or above, or when the animal is exposed to direct sunlight, hot pavement, or other hot surfaces that could harm the animal.

Legal Definitions:
- Tether: To fasten a dog with a cable, chain, rope, or similar object to a stationary or mobile object to restrict its movement. This also includes the tether itself.
- Unattended: When a dog is outdoors without a person also being outdoors with it, or indoors without a person also being indoors with it.
- Proper Shelter: A structure or protection that meets specific standards to ensure the safety and well-being of the animal. This includes adequate ventilation, water access, lighting, space, and maintenance.
- Domestic Companion Animal: Any pet bought, bred, raised, or acquired for companionship, not for business or agricultural purposes. This does not include domestic livestock.

Key Regulations:
1. Tethering Restrictions:
- No dog can be tethered with a chain with metal links more than one-quarter of an inch thick.
- Tethers, collars, or harnesses cannot have weights attached.
- Nursing females or puppies less than four months old cannot be tethered.
- No dog can be tethered between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.
- Dogs must have continuous access to water in a sanitary and liquid state if tethered for more than 30 minutes.

2. Exposure to Adverse Conditions:
- No dog can be exposed to adverse environmental conditions for more than 30 minutes.

3.  Restraint Regulations:

- It is considered cruel restraint to leave a companion animal in an unoccupied building or on vacant property.
- Dogs cannot be restrained by a choke collar, prong collar, head harness, or similar device other than a properly fitted body harness or buckle-type collar.
- No tether can be used to restrain more than one dog, or be less than 15 feet in length, or restrict the dog from walking at least 15 feet in any one direction.
- Tethers must not allow the dog to reach another dog or an object that poses a risk of entanglement, strangulation, drowning, or other harm.

Conclusion:
By understanding and adhering to these guidelines and regulations, you can help ensure that dogs are treated humanely and are protected from harmful environmental conditions. If you observe any violations, report them to your local law enforcement agency to help safeguard the well-being of dogs in your community. Your awareness and action can make a significant difference in the lives of these animals.  

Reporting Adverse Conditions for Canines: How to Take Action Responsibly in NJ

If you report any of these conditions to your local law enforcement and do not receive a response, or if the condition does not improve for the canine(s), please email CompanionAANJ@outlook.com. Be specific with your information, including the time, date, weather conditions, issues observed, and any pictures you can provide. Do not trespass to obtain pictures, and always ensure that you do not break the law in your efforts to try to get it enforced.