an animal control officer just happened to be in my neighborhood and decided he wanted to cite me for having my two dogs outside in 35 degree weather (tehy were out there for 2 hours and loving it). my dogs are large hairy mixed-breeds and they like to run up and down the deck ramp to the ground floor. now i'm a huge dog lover (both are adopted from shelters), but i mean how can you expect somebody to pay $300 in this economy? it's not like they were chained to a tree, they were playing on the friggin deck. he also cited me that the dogs could possibly jump over the balcony if provoked (the deck is 30 feet in the air)

is it me or is this just a tad bit excessive? i plan on fighting this

I don't doubt that you're a dog lover but 2 hours outside in near freezing weather without adequate shelter is too long for any dog, regardless of their coat.Is there a proper dog shelter in your yard? If so I'd fight it. If not...I'm not sure how good your chances of winning the argument will be.

We too are dog lovers and have 2 dogs also. All of our dogs also come from shelters. One is a St. Bernard, known for performing in cold weather. Believe it or not, even a St. Bernard is not supposed to be out for prolonged periods in the cold. ONLY when working (and they get warm up breaks). This past week during inauguration they had tons of working dogs in DC. The dogs had warming stations.

Our Basset Hound LOVES to be outside, and I bring her in from the cold even when she seems fine and wants to stay out.

The same, but in reverse applies in the summer months.
[Edited 1/22/09 22:22pm]

Good luck. What do they do about people who keep their pets outdoors when it's cold? I know hear other people's dogs barking at night when it's freezing out. How come they're not fined?

AnckSuNamun said:

They are not fined because nobody has reported them yet.

johnart said:

it might not have even been two hours. the kids got home from school around 3:30, and this guy wrote the citation at 5:30. it wasn't the kind of cold where you can see your breath as soon as you open your mouth. i'm just saying to levy that kind of fine for a first time infraction is ridiculous. it seems like the local govt's are strapped for cash and are putting out bounties to rasie revenues (i won't even talk about my $160 speeding ticket on the beltway).
it would hurt my budget to pay it, but i can afford it--but what about the the next family who can't come up with that kind of $$$ ? sadly, there might be a lot more pets on the street

I dunno man. I see people out with their dogs in -15 weather here and the dogs seem to be just fine. My dog can't last 5 minutes in the cold. Was this at night?

0 degrees (with no windchill) is not that cold for big, full coat dogs.

But the best rule to go by is - if it's too cold for you to go/stay outside, it's too cold for your dog.

JustErin said:

they just like being outside--hot or cold. they're 75 lbs and 45 lbs, so of course they aren't allowed to ruff and tumble in the house. it's not like that old commercial where the dog is roped up to a tree and hungry. and it damn sure wasn't cold like it was earlier this week.

Fury said:

I would try to get it reduced.
I don't doubt you love and take good care of your dogs. Things happen.

If they like to stay out for prolonged periods I'd just put out a proper shelter to be on the safe side.

JustErin said:

This is true.

It's a mis-conception that big dogs with full coats are ok in the cold for long periods. If a dog hasn't been brought up to be an outside dog it can't handle it the same as one that has.

johnart said:

Basset hounds

Moonbeam said:

Pain in the ass dogs!

But crazy cute and lovable.

Do you have any?
[Edited 1/22/09 23:13pm]

Always fight it and may justice prevail...

35 degree weather? shit i was out in 35 degree weather with not coat on today and it was glorious.

it was fucking beach weather compared to what it's been. and they're taking issue with a DOG being out in it?

Sounds way excessive to me. I'd see if there was a way to fight it if I were you.

Heh, I read 35 degrees as celcius, which is boiling hot.

I don't think you're in the wrong if they seemed fine. If they were running around they were probably warming up anyway...

Sounds extreme. I would fight it.

johnart said:

http://prince.org/msg/100/217270

I would definitely fight that. Who knows...maybe they are trying to get some money for their department by giving out bogus tickets.

We have four dogs: One lab that lives in the house and sleeps in a crate in the non-heated garage at night and a poodle who stays inside all the time. Two beagles that live outside exclusively.

We live in Michigan where it gets freezing cold. The only time my husband lets the beagles sleep in the garage is when it is below zero outside. He had hunting buddies that NEVER let their dogs come in the house and none have died.

When he does go hunting it is usually well below 35 degrees out. He is out for hours with the dogs and they love it. They see him getting hunting stuff out and revving up his truck, they lose their minds!

35 degrees is NOT too cold for big dogs to be outside for two hours. Heck, I wish it was 35 degrees here!

johnart said:

I disagree with you there big time, our boy will run for hours even in minus figure weather. When they are exercising they are working up heat. I admit that would be too cold for many smaller pocket breeds or hairless dogs but a full coat and exercise will keep them very warm. In fact our ACD prefers the cold.

wait, you were at home when this happened? and you say your dogs love to
be outside and they were playing and running around?

i don't see the deal to be honest. any fine is rediculous in that case.
it's been -20 over here and i still take my dog on our regular 30 min
walks 3 times a day. he's only 25 pounds. he loves it.

i've even been out in the forrest with him for near 2 hours a few times
because he loves running around on frozen soil, lol.

as long as the dogs keep active and don't have to sit still, chained to
a tree or lay in an icy wind, i don't see the big deal.

so in short, i'd say fight the fine

IstenSzek said:

Ours is like that too. He loves to run and hike in the cold. He loves when it snows, when he gets hot from running around in it, he eats the snow.

He would stay out there all day if I let him. As soon as he sees me take his lead out to walk him back home, he runs from me because he wants to stay out and play.
He even has a backpack now to carry his own water, treats and poo bags.

shanti0608 said:

sounds like they could be great friends, your dog and mine

last time we went, about 2 weeks ago, when it was -14 i had
to practically drag him home. i remember standing there in
the fields at the edge of the woods pleading with him "oooh
come on joris, i'm frozen, i want to go home now".

IstenSzek said:

We get fed up before they do

mdiver said:

I love to be out in the snow with the pup, I HATE THE MUD!

As I am sure you know.

shanti0608 said:

No shit

AnckSuNamun said:

This drives me INSANE. I can hear a neighbors dog crying at night. Those bastards

The rules seem a bit extreme, but they are the rules.

my dog has to sleep with a balnket and a pillow. He get underneath the blankets as soon as it hits 60 degrees in my room. He's a big wennie.

On a serious note ,hes sick at the moment. He has an enlarged heart and fluid in his left lung. My poor baby!!!

mdiver said:

Every dog is different.Some dogs have been raised as outside dogs (or to spend extended periods outdoors) and have built a higher tolerance for cold. And yes, I agree that when a dog is exercising it works up heat. However, unless you're watching the whole time to ensure they're in fact maintaining activity, a shelter is necessary. I didn't make that up. We've always had big, full coat dogs. Every piece of literature on St. Bernards and Newfoundlands I've ever read has stated this.
I'm not saying they can't be outside. I'm just saying having a doghouse they can go in should they happen to need a chill is not a bad idea. I rather spend $100 for one of them igloo houses and have the freedom to let them run around, than get hit with $300 fines...or worse if they return. Especially since we're talking about someone who obviously cares about her dogs.
[Edited 1/23/09 13:55pm]

johnart said:

Cool, it was just the "for any dog" bit, like you say, all dogs are different