Don't be cruel: Keep your pets warm during winter, humane agent pleads

The humane investigator says: Call as soon as you see an animal in distress.
& lt;a href=mailto:meade@vindy.com & gt;By PATRICIA MEADE & lt;/a & gt;
VINDICATOR CRIME REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Let's not have a repeat of last winter, when 20 dogs froze in doghouses during the first cold snap, said Dave Nelson, Animal Charity humane investigator.
"People need to take a minute and think about adequate shelter. Wind chill makes all the difference. It's just common sense," Nelson said Friday. "If you walk outside and you're cold, an animal will be freezing -- especially at night after they've gotten wet."
Nelson said that doghouses allow too much wind to get in through the front openings and that those without straw offer no warmth. He said pets should be brought in, at least to a garage or basement, when the temperature dips and it's windy with drizzle or snow.
He said his 40-hour work week generally jumps to 60 or 70 hours in the winter. By midmorning Friday, he had seized a dog and a cat left outside without any shelter and issued six warnings.
Just plain wrong
"We should never be this busy. To tie an animal up in cold conditions is cruel," Nelson said. "We even see horses outside with no shelter."
Aside from pets left outdoors, Nelson gets a lot of calls about pets abandoned in vacant houses.
"Sometimes, when people move out or get evicted, they leave animals in the house. I got 20 calls this week about dogs being locked in abandoned houses," Nelson said. "Normally I handle abandoned animal calls because it's cruelty, but the landlord should call the dog pound and pay for removal."
Those who fail to care for their pets face animal cruelty charges.
The penalties
Nelson said he has good success in prosecuting and pointed out that a first offense can mean up to six months in jail and $1,000 fine. He said a second offense is a felony and can mean up to one year in prison, $2,500 fine, prohibition from owning an animal again and psychiatric counseling.
If someone is unable to care for their animals, there are lots of organizations willing to help, he said. To let an animal starve or freeze is inhumane, he said.
"Neighbors should report these cases as soon as they determine an animal is in distress," Nelson said. "Don't wait."
Calls can be made to Animal Charity on South Avenue at (330) 788-1064 extension 20. Leave a detailed message. Nelson said an animal without any shelter, such as one tied to a tree, is a priority.
911 calls
He said 911 call takers -- Youngstown and Mahoning County -- also do an excellent job of handling abuse calls, which get passed on to him. He often arrives to find police already on the scene, just in case they're needed.
He said street department, Ohio Edison and postal workers are the top three who call to report animals without proper shelter or food and water.
Animal Charity tries to find homes for rescued animals, but some, who are aggressive and can't be adopted out or are too sick from being malnourished or in some other way abused are euthanized. Nelson said they evaluate each animal to see if it can be saved.
"I'm the only one in the whole county handling this. There's no support from the city or county, no money -- that's a misconception," Nelson said. "Animal Charity is private. It pays my wages through its veterinary clinic."
The clinic provides vaccinations, spaying and neutering and so forth.
Nelson said he handles calls on private property, whereas the Mahoning County Dog Pound picks up strays or injured animals.
& lt;a href=mailto:meade@vindy.com & gt;meade@vindy.com & lt;/a & gt;