Humane officer pleased with county's response
Since being sworn in as the Butler County humane police officer last summer, Janice Lawniczak has investigated 53 cases of animal abuse or neglect, 98 percent of them due to the extreme cold weather.
She said neighbors or passers-by contact her to report dogs tied outside in the subfreezing temperatures. Lawniczak then visits the properties and informs the dog owners of updates to state law passed in August which prohibit pets from being tied outdoors for more than 30 minutes when the temperature is below 32 degrees or above 90 degrees.
She said once she tells a dog owner that they must bring their animal inside or leaves a note on the door, she drives by the next day to ensure the dog isn't still tied to a box.
“Everyone I've gone to has been very receptive to putting their animals inside,” Lawniczak said.
She said while dogs could once be left outside as long as they had straw or another insulating material in their box as well as fresh, unfrozen water, the new law does not permit any dogs to be tethered to a box for longer periods once the mercury dips below the freezing mark or rises above 90.
She said the exception is a kennel where a dog is not tied and has a heated dog house, or straw in an unheated dog house, plus access to food and water.
Most of the people she visited said they were unaware of the “anti-tethering law” or said their dog had never been inside the house.
“People who tie dogs outside don't think of dogs as family members like the rest of us do,” Lawniczak said. “It's just the way they've always done things.”
She said if a dog owner does not comply with her orders to bring the animal inside, she can cite them through the regional district judge.
“I haven't had to do that,” said Lawniczak.
She said she has responded to 49 cases where a dog was reported tied outside in the bitter cold.
In one case, a woman in the southern part of the county ended up surrendering four adult coonhounds and four tiny coonhound pups because she had fallen on hard times and could not care for the animals.
“The Butler County Humane Society met me at the property, and they were taken to the humane society to be adopted out,” Lawniczak said.
She said dog owners are not charged a fee when Lawniczak visits, even if the animals are surrendered.
“They don't pay anything,” Lawniczak said of those who comply with her directives.
Lawniczak said in general, Butler County residents take good care of their animals.
“I have not had any physical abuse cases,” she said.
Lawniczak cautions pet owners that a dog's tolerance of the recent deep-freeze conditions largely depends on their breed.
She said German shepherds and huskies tolerate the cold better than short-haired breeds like the beagle.
Lawniczak has one piece of advice for dog and domestic cat owners in the county while the temperatures remain below the freezing mark.
“Please keep your animals inside,” she said.
Those with concerns about an animal can contact Lawniczak by searching for “OVADA” or “Janicemariehpo” on Facebook.
