Delegate Proposes Bill Protecting Dogs in Cold

By Nate Rabner, CAPITAL NEWS SERVICE

As the General Assembly gets underway, some elected officials—including the delegate representing Owings Mills—are asking for laws to protect animals in cold weather.

Delegate Dana Stein, D-Baltimore County, is sponsoring a bill that would make it illegal to restrain a dog outside for longer than 15 minutes during a National Weather Service hazardous weather warning, or for longer than an hour when the temperature is 32 degrees or colder, or 100 degrees or hotter.

Delegate Karen Lewis Young, D-Frederick, is a co-sponsor.

Young’s husband, Sen. Ronald Young, D-Frederick, is fighting animal cruelty with a similar bill that would make it a misdemeanor to leave a dog restrained and unattended outside in dangerous weather.

Senator Young’s bill would prohibit a dog’s owner from leaving it tethered or chained outdoors during a snow emergency called by state police, or when it is 32 degrees or colder outside for at least an hour.

“We have three rescue dogs,” Ronald Young said. “I think one of ‘em was tied up like that.”

He is scheduled to present his bill to the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee on Wednesday.

“Just that a dog can’t be left out in extreme temperatures without someplace to go to get out of the weather, out of the heat, out of the snow or whatever,” Ronald Young said. “Some people put ‘em on a chain and tie ‘em to a tree and forget ‘em.”

Ronald Young said he also wants a statewide animal abuser registry, which would prevent convicted abusers from buying or adopting pets.

Photo Credit: Patch File Photo.