Severe Weather Animal Alert Issued For Anne Arundel County Pets

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MD — A severe weather animal alert has been issued for Anne Arundel County that lasts from 9 p.m. Friday through 9 a.m. Saturday in conjunction with the warming centers that are being opened across the county.

The severe weather animal alert states that any dog left unattended outside must have the following items:

• fresh, clean and drinkable non-frozen water at all times in a non-tip bowl;
• dry bedding or resting board inside a dog house;
• if the dog is in an enclosure, the minimum enclosure size must meet county minimums, which are 100 square feet for dogs under 80 pounds, 150 square feet for dogs over 80 pounds and an additional 50 square feet for each dog under 80 pounds in the same enclosure and an additional 75 square feet for each dog over 80 pounds in the same enclosure;
• a dog house with no interior metal surfaces that protects the animal against wind, snow and cold that is raised at least two inches off the ground.

From Dec. 1 through March 15, the dog house must have an accessible covered entry or an off-set door to act as a windbreak.

Dogs cannot be tethered unless temperatures are above 33 degrees and the dog is supervised at all times.

Failure to comply with the above requirements can result in civil citations with fines ranging from $125 to $1,000, removal of the animal and/or criminal prosecution.

According to Anne Arundel County Animal Care and Control, this law does not apply to cats.

"Anne Arundel County law requires all pets be kept on leash or confined to the owners property. Generally speaking, those owners who allow their pet cats outside allow them roam freely (thereby violating the leash or confined) because those pets are not confined they are not prohibited from accessing protection from the weather," the department posted on its Facebook page.