Dallas Animal Services (DAS) said it recently received more than a hundred calls regarding animals left out in the cold, reported Fox 4.
DAS took 124 calls on Thursday and had responded to 65 by the end of the day.
Weather in Dallas reached temperatures well below freezing in the past week, including lows of 12 degrees Fahrenheit over the weekend.
The City of Dallas said 19 violations were issued to pet owners, and three animals were impounded.
“If you see an animal who has been left outdoors during freezing temperatures for a significant period of time, please call 3-1-1 or file a report on animal lack of care through our OurDallas app,” Paul Ramon, DAS representative, instructed residents.
According to its website, DAS serves tens of thousands of animals as a government-operated animal shelter, as well as providing “public safety and animal care services to residents of Dallas.”
Keeping animals safe during cold weather is required by law, with potentially severe penalties for violators.
According to the Safe Outdoor Dogs Act, which went into effect in January 2022, dogs who are left out in the cold are to be provided with a standard of care, especially if the temperature drops below 32 degrees Fahrenheit.
People who own pets and leave them outside in extreme weather could face misdemeanor charges at the least. They could also face more serious charges, such as animal cruelty.
If people either see a dog outside in cold temperatures or inside a dog house that doesn’t seem equipped for the cold weather, the Texas Humane Legislation Network (THLN) suggests calling authorities, such as DAS. Animal care officers can assess whether or not the dog is in danger.
“People sometimes think of dogs as being able to withstand extreme temperatures for long,” Shelby Bobosky, executive director of THLN, told Dallas CultureMap. “But if the pet is not adequately protected from the elements, that’s a violation of the law.”
