Serpa, Lynch Prata bill to protect hunting dogs from frigid temperatures

Posted 1/16/18

On the eve of a forecasted snowstorm, Rep. Patricia A. Serpa (D-Dist. 27, West Warwick, Coventry, Warwick) and Sen. Erin Lynch Prata (D-Dist. 31, Warwick, Cranston) have introduced legislation that would include hunting dogs in an existing law that

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Serpa, Lynch Prata bill to protect hunting dogs from frigid temperatures

Posted

On the eve of a forecasted snowstorm, Rep. Patricia A. Serpa (D-Dist. 27, West Warwick, Coventry, Warwick) and Sen. Erin Lynch Prata (D-Dist. 31, Warwick, Cranston) have introduced legislation that would include hunting dogs in an existing law that protects animals from extreme temperatures.

The current law, which the General Assembly enacted last year, makes it illegal to keep any dog outside when the ambient temperature is above or below the industry standard for the weather safety scale as set forth in the most recent adopted version of the Tufts Animal Care and Condition Weather Safety Scale. However, the law makes an exemption for any person raising or training a gun dog or hunting dog.

“Whether for purposes of hunting or not, to keep these dogs tethered, on chains, outside of a wooden box in this weather is cruel and unreasonable,” Serpa said in a statement. “I have received several phone calls from people who are concerned about the welfare of dogs during this deep freeze. They and I want to guarantee that these animals will be protected.”

The legislation comes in the wake of an incident in Warwick that has garnered national attention. According to news reports, the owner of several pit bulls has come under public protest for keeping the dogs tethered outside in order to acclimate them to cold temperatures.

“When extreme weather hits, regardless if a dog is hunting dog or not, it is cruel and torturous to keep these animals outside,” said Senator Lynch Prata in a statement. “If it’s too cold for a human being to withstand being outside for 10 hours, it is far too cold for a dog to be subjected to such conditions. This is a loophole in our state law that needs to be closed so that dogs are treated humanely and not left outside to freeze to death.”

Dr. E.J. Finocchio, president of the Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, said he wants to see a change in state law.

“There have to be provisions placed in the law that say when the weather conditions become adversary to the health and wellbeing of these animals that something has to be done,” said Finocchio.

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  • Justanidiot

    Talk about your nanny state.

    Maybe we should send people out in the cold to round up feral cats that might die. It would be worth losing a finger or toe to save a pussy, right?

    Wednesday, January 17, 2018 Report this