PETS If it's raining cats and dogs, animals will need a shelter

Fines for failing to provide shelter for a pet range from $300 to $1,000.
By MARALINE KUBIK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
During a recent thunderstorm, Pam Comstock of Boardman awoke with a start. The camper in which she and her family were sleeping was rocking -- not because of the storm, but because of Charlie, the family's 97-pound Dalmatian.
"He was shaking the trailer with his pacing," she said. "He's afraid of storms and paced all night. The dog does nothing lightly. He's not graceful at all so you could feel him walking."
"He wanted to come and hide by me," Comstock continued, "but I was too hot and had the door open and the big ol' lug was too scared to come past the door."
Comstock's husband and three children slept through the storm, but their pets were bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.
Chance, another Dalmation about half the size of Charlie, stayed curled under the kitchen table and Smokey, a 14-pound poodle mix, whimpered relentlessly until he was placed underneath the blankets next to Comstock's 14-year-old daughter, Mandy.
"It was hysterical. The next morning, Smokey was belly-up and sound asleep in her arms. Mandy was asleep too," Comstock said.
Charlie was still spooked.
Usually, he can't wait to rush outside but he hesitated, sniffing the air and looking around before he'd set foot off the deck, she said.
Bring them in
It's not unusual for pets, especially dogs, to be frightened by bad weather, said Jean Kelty, president of Animal Charity of Youngstown.
Helping dogs to find a sheltered area where they feel protected -- inside a closet, in the corner of a room, under a table or behind furniture -- might help alleviate their jitters, Kelty said.
Under no circumstance should they be left outside, exposed to thunder, lightening or pelting rain.
The same holds true for other pets. "Cats do not bother as much. Generally, they will seek out a place to hide," Kelty said, "but you should keep them inside."
Farm animals should be sheltered, too. "We had six calls today about horses stuck in the mud and their owners failing to do anything about it," Dave Nelson, Mahoning County humane agent said Wednesday.
Nelson had 40 calls Tuesday about dogs left outside without shelter.
Some pet owners just need educated, Nelson said. Even so, fines for failing to provide shelter for a pet range from $300 to $1,000, he said.
Offenders could also be sentenced to up to six months in jail.
Repeat offenders could be fined up to $2,500 and sentenced to two years in jail. "A second offense involving cruelty is a felony," Nelson said.
Wild animals
Bad weather distresses wild animals, too.
Birds seek shelter in evergreens but may have a difficult time finding food, Kelty said. She suggests filling bird feeders or putting out bread.
Raccoons and rabbits may have had their dens washed out so they may be looking for places to keep dry.
"We're asking homeowners to be tolerant of the wild animals that may be in their yards and advising them to keep their garage doors closed if they don't want wildlife inside," Kelty said.
Turtles, in the midst of their egg-laying season, are on the move looking for good nesting spots; the heavy rains have not washed them out of their homes although it may appear that they have been displaced because of the number that have been spotted on local roads lately, Kelty said.
Nelson warns anyone wanting to move a turtle out of harm's way to be wary.
Snapping turtles can easily take off a finger with their powerful jaws and should be moved using extreme caution, he said.
kubik@vindy.com