COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – A pair of representatives from Branch County animal rights advocacy groups proposed to the Branch County Board of Commissioners during their work session Thursday that the county look into an ordinance that would protect animals in extreme weather conditions.
Anna Keim from Branch County Bloom says Hillsdale and St. Joseph counties are working on such an ordinance.
Jan Nagledinger from the Humane Society of Branch County pointed out one family last winter was visited by three law enforcement agencies on dog complaints.
Similar ordinances have been adopted in Fort Wayne and Indianapolis, Indiana. The Fort Wayne ordinance calls for animals to be brought into a temperature controlled structure when the mercury drops below 10 degrees and/or a wind chill warning is issued.
Under the Indianapolis ordinance, extreme weather is when the temperature is below 20 degrees or above 90 degrees. Dogs must also be brought inside when there’s a heat advisory, a windchill advisory, or a tornado warning has been issued.
