Animal Services Officers On The Lookout For Dogs With No Food, Shade, Water During Extreme Heat

Dispatchers at Animal Services have received more reports of alleged animal neglect in the last two weeks this year, than the same time period last year, according to one official.

In the last two weeks, there have been 275 complaints of animals without water or shade. Compare that to 113 last year in the same time period. Deputy Director of Health for Animal Services, Eduardo De Castro provided the statistics for ABC-7.

He said plenty of shade, cool water and food are esssential during record-breaking hot temperatures. “(Animals need) food, shade, fresh water, not hot and not in the sun – and that is sufficient for the animal to fare the heat. Now in my standards of care, I keep my dog inside”, said De Castro.

Keeping an animal chained up is not advisable, he said. “It’s not really a good thing to tie up a dog. I hope that if someone has a dog tied up, they make the proper arrangements for the dog to be loose because it’s just not a good living standard”, added De Castro. Keeping a dog chained can increase their level of aggression.

De Castro also said a dog house doesn’t help much. “In this heat, it’s hotter inside that dog house, it’s like an oven, than being outside.”

An ABC-7 crew stopped by a Northeast El Paso home with an Animal Services officer where an anonymous caller had told officials there were two pitbulls without food, water or shade.

“The two pitbulls are ideal in weight, they do have access to food and water and shade, so the complaint at this time is unfounded”, said Bill West, an Animal Services officer. Even though that case is closed, officals said there has been an increase in animal neglect calls.

Animal Services officers can enter a property and give an animal water, if the resident is not home. They’ll call police before doing that so the Animal Services officer can have witnesses when he enters the property.

Depending on the severity of the case and if the animal is in distress, a suspect can face a fine up to $100 or animal cruelty charges if their animal does not have food, water, or shade.

If the animal is in danger or very ill, the officer can gather a warrant from a judge, if they document the alleged abuse, and remove the animal. Then, authorities may press charges against the owner of the animal.

One borderland resident, Gloria Mendoza, has taken more measures to keep her 4-year-old Siberian Husky cool and healthy.

She only walks him between 6 and 7 in the morning, when the temperature is still bearable, then sets up a small pool with water for him to cool off his paws after the walk. She also set up misters with cool water in the front and back yard for Bowie and brings him inside from one to about 1 to 5 every afternoon, when its the hottest.

“He’s a great partner, my walking partner and I like him because he’s company to me, he’s always there with me”, said Gloria of Bowie, who has one brown and one green eye and lots of thick white fur.

Gloria said Bowie got skin cancer on his nose from sun exposure so she takes extra precautions to keep him cool. “I consider him family, he’s like my grandkid that I don’t have”, she said.