Officers rescue 6 dogs left outside in freezing temperatures on Long Island
MANORVILLE, Suffolk County (WABC) -- Suffolk County police rescued six dogs left outside in freezing temperatures in Manorville.
Officers responded to a 911 call of dogs left outside unattended at 10:40 p.m. on Toppings Path near County Road 111.
When the officers arrived on the scene at the non-residential area, they found six unattended dogs, two on chains and four in cages, without adequate access to shelter.
The temperature registered 25 degrees, and the water in the dogs' bowls was frozen.
"It could be a death sentence to leave your dog outside," Suffolk County SPCA Chief Roy Gross said.
Gross said they also had a case Tuesday where a pit bull was left outside in Middle Island right before the temperature dipped below freezing.
The county's law was revamped in 2017 to be very strict on tethering, especially in brutally cold weather. No dog can be tethered more than one hour.
"But it's below 32 degrees, a dog cannot be tethered at all," Gross said. "Cannot be left out at all."
Police rescued the dogs, three beagles and three bloodhounds, ranging in age from 1 to 5 years old, and took them to Animal Emergency Service in Selden.
Anyone with information about the dogs is asked to call the Seventh Precinct Crime Section at 631-854-8726.
Suffolk County tethering law:
It is illegal to tether or chain a dog outdoors for more than one continuous hour in any 12-hour period between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. Tethering is not allowed between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m.
No dog can be tethered for any length of time if the chain or tether:
--Endangers dog's health, safety or well-being
--Restricts dog's access to suitable and sufficient food, fresh, potable water and dry ground
--Does not provide such dog with shelter appropriate to its breed, physical condition, and the climate
--Unreasonably limits the movement because it is too short for the dog to move around or for the dog to urinate or defecate in a separate area from the area where it must eat, drink or lie down
--Is a choke collar, pinch collar, or prong collar, or a similar collar that restrains the dog in such a manner that it impairs the flow of oxygen or blood to the dog, which may cause choking or causes substantial discomfort
--Is embedded, partially embedded or may become embedded in such dog's skin
--Has weights attached or contains links that are more than 1/4 inch thick
--Weighs more than 12.5% of the dog's total body weight, not to exceed 15 pounds for any dog
--Is less than 15 feet in length
--Is long enough to allow such dog to move outside of its owner's property
--Would allow the restrained dog to move over an object, including any fencing, barrier, or edge that could result in the strangulation of or injury
--Is fixed (i.e., does not swivel) on either end
No person shall tether, leash, fasten, secure, restrain, chain or tie a dog to any stationary object outdoors for more than one continuous hour in any continuous twelve-hour period between the hours of 6 a.m. and 11 p.m.
No person shall tether, leash, fasten, secure, restrain, chain or tie a dog to any stationary object outdoors between the hours of 11 p.m. and 6 a.m.
No person shall tether, leash, fasten, secure, restrain, chain or tie a dog to any stationary object outdoors if the dog is:
--Less than six months of age
--Sick or injured
--Nursing mother whose offspring is present
Multiple dogs shall not be tethered or restrained in such a manner that they are able to come into contact with one another at any point in time while restrained.
No person shall tether, leash, fasten, secure, restrain, chain, tie, pen or otherwise confine outdoors a dog when:
--The temperature is below 32 F.
--The temperature is above 90 F.
--The National Weather Service has issued a heat or wind chill advisory, watch or warning
--Conditions are not appropriate due to the breed, physical condition and climate
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