(File Photo)
(Center Twp., Beaver County, Pa.) On Wednesday, June 16, 2022, in Baden, PA, a dog was found unresponsive after being left outside without access to shade and water for more than 30 minutes during yesterday’s 90-degree heat. The dog’s owner Di Xiao of Baden, PA, has been charged with two felony charges of aggravated cruelty to an animal and four misdemeanor counts of cruelty and neglect to animals. Xiao was arraigned at the Beaver County Jail and is being held for trial.
To prevent similar incidents, if you see a dog tethered outside, please report it! Thanks to Pennsylvania’s Libre’s Law, it is illegal for a dog to be tethered outside for more than 30 minutes when the temperature is 90 degrees or higher. Dogs also must have access to water and shade. Our Humane Society Police Officers can be reached Mondays through Fridays, 9 am – 5 pm at 724-775-7501 x110. For emergency situations, after hours, or on weekends, please call 911.
If your dog shows any symptoms of heatstroke, including restlessness, excessive panting, vomiting, lethargy, and lack of appetite or coordination, get the animal into the shade immediately. A symptomatic dog’s body temperature can be lowered by placing wet washcloths on the foot pads and around the animal’s head and chest and offering the dog small amounts of water. Then immediately call a veterinarian as internal damages may occur.
BHCS offers the following suggestions for safeguarding animals during hot weather:
Keep dogs indoors: Unlike humans, dogs can only sweat through their footpads and cool themselves by panting. Soaring temperatures can cause heat stress, injury, or death.
1. Provide water and shade: When outside, animals must have access to fresh water and ample shade, and the shifting sun needs to be considered. Even brief periods of direct exposure to the sun can have life-threatening consequences.
2. Walk—don’t run: In very hot, humid weather, never exercise dogs by biking and making them run alongside you or by running them while you jog. Dogs will collapse before giving up.
3. Avoid hot cars: Never leave an animal in a parked car in warm weather, even for short periods with the windows partially rolled down. Dogs trapped inside hot cars can succumb to heatstroke within minutes, even if a car isn’t parked in direct sunlight.
4.Avoid hot pavement: When outdoor temperatures reach the 80s, asphalt temperatures can reach 140 degrees, causing pain, burns, and permanent damage, leading to scarring on dogs’ paws after just a few minutes of contact. Walk on grass whenever possible and avoid walking in the middle of the day.
4.Stay alert and save a life: Keep an eye on all outdoor animals. Make sure that they have adequate water and shelter.
