THE TRUTH ABOUT THE LAW ON LEAVING DOGS OUTSIDE
Court overturns appeal, sentences Saint Bernard to death
December 7, 2017
Challenging the CT Dog Kill Order Statute and Being a Legal Advocate in Animal Abuse Prosecutions
January 12, 2018
THE TRUTH ABOUT THE LAW ON LEAVING DOGS OUTSIDE:
On January 8, 2018, I was appointed as the animal advocate for a dog named BJ, who froze to death after being left outside during frigid conditions. This matter was widely covered by the news media. The law not only requires owners of animals to care for them and keep them protected from the elements, but the law also applies to keepers of animals and others as well. Connecticut statute C.G.S. 53-247 applies to “ANY person who…deprives of necessary sustenance…or having charge or custody of any animal, fails to provide it with proper food, drink or protection from the weather…”
Even though the suspect claimed she was not the owner of the dog or the property where the dog was located, and therefore was not responsible for the dog’s death, she admitted to police she kept the dog in her basement for months before chaining him outside in her back yard, clearly making her the keeper of this innocent animal, and thus liable for its death. Hopefully this story helps to educate the public about the realities of animal abuse and the issues in the law concerning these creatures.
Thanks to Tara Joyce of NBC CT NEWS for helping to get the facts of this case reported correctly.
