Pennsylvania Passes Law In Honor Of Injured Dog To Penalize Owners For Leaving Their Pets Out In The Cold

Feb 19, 2020 by apost team

While temperatures across the nation are plummeting, many people feel like it’s perfectly fine to leave their dogs outside to fend for themselves.

Despite the cold temperatures, they seem to believe that these pets will be okay with limited shelter. While some dogs may survive, others have been known to lose their lives from the cold alone.

In Pennsylvania, Governor Tom Wolf is stepping up to put an end to this problem as he is trying to protect dogs with a new law. 

This new law, which is called Libre’s Law, makes it illegal for dogs to be tied outside for longer than thirty-minutes if the temperatures are below 32F. It also helps to protect them during the summer months by making it a crime to keep dogs chained outside for longer than a half-hour if the temperature is over 90F.

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This law comes with some stiff penalties. Those who break this law can spend up to 90 days in jail and as pay as much as $2,000 in fines. Those who actually abuse their animals face consequences that are much more serious.

Libre’s Law got its start because of one Pennsylvania dog’s terrible situation after being exposed to the harsh elements. The puppy’s name was Libre and he lived in a cage on a farm in Lancaster County. Libre was surviving in his pitiful conditions– until the temperatures got too hot for the small animal to endure.

Libre was not only suffering from the heat, but his skin was rotting and he was covered in maggots. Libre had also been severely malnourished, weighing in at only five pounds despite his advanced age.

Thanks to the hard work of the vet clinic, Libre was given the care that he needed and began to improve. He started eating and grew strong enough to start walking. Today, you wouldn’t even recognize Libre as the same dog! Well-fed and sassy, this puppy now looks great.

Governor Wolf was touched by Libre’s story and began working to ensure that animals get the protection they need. He even let Libre add his paw print to Libre’s Law.

While we understand that some animals do fine outside, there is no excuse for the treatment that Libre received. What do you think of Libre’s Law? Will this be the measure necessary to help animals avoid abuse?