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Bring your dogs inside, SPCA urges

Bring your dog inside. That's the plea from BC SPCA cruelty investigators after responding to dozens of calls across the province recently about dogs left outside in record-breaking frigid temperatures.

Bring your dog inside. That's the plea from BC SPCA cruelty investigators after responding to dozens of calls across the province recently about dogs left outside in record-breaking frigid temperatures.

"It's absolutely preposterous to leave a dog - particularly a short-haired breed like a pit bull - outside in this weather," said SPCA spokesperson Eileen Drever.

Drever said dogs who do not have adequate shelter can succumb to frostbite and hypothermia, and even die.

"For the love of your pet, don't leave him outside in this weather," Drever said.

Owners are required under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act to provide their pets with adequate food, water and shelter.

Marcie Moriarty, the BC SPCA's general manager of cruelty investigations, said the society seized dogs last week who were being kept outside without proper shelter.

The BC SPCA opposes keeping dogs exclusively outdoors, and last year launched a campaign called "Break the Chains of Suffering" aimed at educating guardians about back yard dogs. Dogs who are kept outside all the time -no matter what the weather - can suffer physical and psychological harm.

"At the very minimum under the law, you must make sure your dog has adequate food, water and shelter," said Drever. "His dog house must be elevated, he should have straw bedding to keep his body temperature up, the door should have a flap to keep the wind out and he should have food and water."

Drever adds that farm animals are also susceptible to the weather and should be brought into the barn when the temperature drops.

Animals expend more energy in cold weather so it's also a good idea to increase the food they are given.

-Submitted