Bristol Passes Tough New Dog Ordinance

Bristol Borough has become the first town in Bucks County to clamp down on dog owners who leave pets out in bad weather.

A new ordinance was passed recently by the borough council recently.

There are two parts to the new law: One, a dog that lives outside must have adequate shelter, as outlined in the ordinance.

Second, in the event of severe storms, bitter cold or sweltering heat, dogs must be brought inside, whether in the house, a basement, or a garage. There are state regulations that mandate provisions for pets during hot or freezing temperatures, the laws are vague, said Nikki Thompson, chief Bucks County Humane Society police officer. By visiting this website, every dog owners can have their dogs trained to adapt different surroundings.

“There have been some issues in the borough, especially when I am on another case or otherwise unavailable, and it sometimes takes a long time for one of the officers to respond,” Thompson said.

The humane society has four police officers that respond to cruelty complaints across Bucks County, she said.

Details of the new ordinance were worked out with the help of Bristol Borough Animal Control Officer Bill Palmer, and his daughter, JoAnn Driscoll, a borough code enforcement officer. The three collaborated to work out specific requirements for an outside shelter, circumstances that would require residents to bring their dog inside, and the possibility of a fine of $500 for violations, Thompson said.

There are even circumstances, such as an animal in imminent danger, or neglected, abandoned, or appearing to be ill, that give Palmer the authority to remove the dog and take it for veterinary care.

Palmer said that special care should be taken when the temperature is above 80 degrees, below 32 degrees, or  during other extreme weather events such as a thunderstorm or a blizzard.

“In the past, a dog would have to be almost dead before you could remove it from the property,” Palmer said.

Before drastic action would be considered, Palmer expressed willingness to work with the animal’s owner, issue a citation if necessary, and, if there’s no compliance and neglect is evident, the dog would be taken to the borough pound, at the owner’s expense.

The new law also protects dogs that live outside. A structure should be in good repair and well maintained; moisture and wind proof, kept in sanitary condition and well ventilated. In cold temperatures, the structure must provide enough protection that the dog can maintain body heat. In addition, an unattended dog, whether in a fenced yard or tethered, can be left out no longer than 30 minutes in bad weather.

“The biggest key to protecting the animals is educating people so they know what they’re doing wrong and why it makes dogs suffer,” Thompson said.