Babylon Town Supervisor Rich Schaffer would like to remind residents to keep their pets indoors during winter storms, extreme cold weather and freezing conditions. While spring is just around the corner, our area is once again being hit by winter weather and it is important that residents keep their pets safe and warm indoors, away from the harsh cold. Leaving pets outside in such conditions can lead to extreme injury and even death due to frostbite and hypothermia.
Please follow the below tips from the Suffolk County SPCA for caring for your pet during cold weather events:
- Never leave pets in a car for any length of time
- Walk dogs only on a leash because roads can be dangerous in ice and snow conditions
- Keep pets away from fireplaces
- Never use a space heater which can be knocked over and cause a fire
- Keep tags on your pet. More dogs get lost in winter snow conditions.
The SPCA would also like to remind dog owners that you cannot tether or chain a dog outside for more than two hours in any 12 hour period. No dog can be tethered for any length of time if the chain or tether meets any of the following conditions:
- It is attached to a choke or pinch collar
- Has a collar that is embedded or may become embedded
- Has links that are more than 1/4 inch thick
- Has weights attached
- It is less than 10 feet in length
- Weighs more than 25 pounds or 1/4 of the dog’s weight
- Can become entangled
For any questions or to report animal abuse, please call the SPCA at 631-382-7722.