Warwick is full of animal advocates. A few weeks ago, a demonstration was held in front of the Route 2 Rumford Pet Store in Warwick. Protestors with signs stood out in the sun to catch the eyes of …
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Warwick is full of animal advocates. A few weeks ago, a demonstration was held in front of the Route 2 Rumford Pet Store in Warwick. Protestors with signs stood out in the sun to catch the eyes of motorists, all in the name of preventing cruelty to puppy mill dogs.
Last week, the governor signed into law a bill relating to the treatment of companion animals that had its roots right here in our own city.
Back in 2009, a dog left outside in Warwick died due to (what the RISPCA ruled was) hypothermia. That spurred Councilman Joseph Solomon onto a cause he’s still very passionate about: protecting the health, safety and well-being of companion animals.
In 2010, the council voted in favor of an ordinance sponsored by Solomon, which has, in the years since, blossomed into the piece of legislation Governor Chafee signed into law last week.
No longer can animals be left out in the extreme cold or heat. No longer can they be tethered for hours on end or with choking or restrictive collars. Now, owners of animals who are neglected will face jail time, a fine, or both.
Advocates consider this a huge step forward, but for those of us in Warwick, it’s old hat. We were pioneers on the front, and the actions of our city representatives resulted in a statewide difference.
Importantly, it’s a law that no one can frown upon: people can still leave their dogs outside, but it must be done in a way that’s fair to the animal. Who can argue with that?
It is, as Solomon put it, a good move for animals and animal lovers. He said it best: the animals can’t advocate for themselves, so they depend on us. That’s a message a lot of Warwick residents are taking to heart. In time, their small steps forward could, like Solomon’s efforts, turn into giant leaps.
Though Rhode Island is not the first to enact a law like this, we’re certainly not the last, and that’s important. Too often we’re at the bottom of the heap, so when we climb our way out from the bottom of the barrel, it’s important to take a step back and examine exactly how that change came about.
In this case, we in Warwick were the catalyst. Solomon, in conjunction with fellow Warwick resident Dennis Tabella, the founder of Defenders of Animals, worked hard to ensure that animals locally and statewide had justice. The two of them deserve a pat on the back and maybe, from our canine friends, a lick of the face.
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davebarry109
There has to be a balance between common sense and the overzealous 'animal rights activists' that masquerade as animal lovers. Some people treat their animals as part of the family. Others treat them as pets. Some think leaving a dog out all day is cruel. Others do not. As long as the animal isn't being harmed, mind your own business. Some of the animal activists want you to treat your dog or cat as if they were people, claiming they have rights. Animals don't have rights, certainly they are not equal to people. Some people who wouldn't lift a finger to help a person go beserk when they see a dog left in a car with the window cracked, not knowing how long the owner has been gone. Even on a hot day, the dog won't be harmed if you run into the store for five minutes but some animal activist will call the police as if a robbery were in progress.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012 Report this
Michael2012
I agree. People are fanatics. They are nuts when it comes to animals. Animals are tougher than humans. They can be outside. They need food and water. They shouldn't be left in cars for long periods of time. But other than they are fine. If it is 60's and car windows are cracked the dog won't fry in car. 80's and 90's outside is too hot to be in car
Tuesday, June 26, 2012 Report this
isitworking4you
It is comments like those that are attached to this wonderful article that gets me angry. Nobody is overzealous when wanting to protect animals. those folks should get educated and see some of the autrocities going on with dogs in homes, in puppy mills and in pet stores. Unfortunately they DO need to have laws to regulate and protect them as humans fall short too often and find pets are dispensable. By the Way, read the statistics of how hot 5 minutes in a car at 90 degress turns into before you say it is fine for a few minutes. GET EDUCATED FOLKS...that is what life is about.
Here is the temperature information inside a car: people take their dogs along on errands but leave them in the car. This can be deadly.
"A little heat outside a car can quickly make it very hot inside. On a summer's day of only 85 degrees Fahrenheit, for example, even keeping the windows slightly open won't stop the inside temperature from climbing to 102 degrees in 10 minutes, and to 120 degrees in 20 minutes. A dog whose body temperature rises to 107-108 degrees will within a very short time suffer irreparable brain damage — or even death."
Also if you knew people who rescue, they are the ONLY ones likely to help PEOPLE as well as anything in Need, certainly not folks who simply do not believe animals should have rights...certainly I AM THE GUARDIAN of my dogs...Why not look up the word GUARDIAN?
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Wednesday, June 27, 2012 Report this