Concerns follow new shelter, tethering laws in Worcester County

“When there’s severe weather, very cold or very hot, the dogs need to come in,” said animal advocate Lenore Bennett.

Worcester County Humane Society volunteer and animal advocate Lenore Bennett says so far she’s not impressed with the new shelter and tethering law Bill 18-4, that Worcester county officials put into effect back in December. And says there’s still more work to be done.

“Everybody thought it was done when we got this passed, but we’re not done,” said Bennett.

The new law includes sheltering requirements that are supposed to ensure an animal’s safety in severe weather conditions. Specifically, when temperatures go over 85 degrees or under 32 degrees. The bill states that owners must not keep their animals outside for more than 30 minutes without adequate shelter.

“I just want the dog to find shelter. Warm adequate shelter that’s above 32 degrees to meet the law,” said Bennett.

But over the past two days with temperatures dipping into the teens, Bennett tells 47 she has still seen dogs living outside in shelters that don’t seem suitable enough for these harsh conditions, even if the law says it is.  And on Monday we met her outside a home and watched as a dog struggled to endure the brutal conditions for around two hours.

“She’s very cold, she’s shivering, even though she has a dog house, it’s not enough in this kind of weather,” said Bennett.

She tells us she’s spent the past couple of days reaching out to emergency officials, animal control and more to get animals like this dog inside. And while officers have responded to the calls, it’s unclear if anyone’s been cited.

“I don’t know if their interpretation is different than what the intent is, or what but at this point they’re not enforcing the section where the dog should be taken inside,” said Bennett.

And although Bennett doesn’t quite agree with the laws standards, she says she’ll continue to fight and speak up for the ones that don’t have a voice.