Smithfield, VA

Saturday, June 30, 2012

Nonprofit Begs Dog Caretakers to Bring Dogs Inside as Heat Indexes Soar to Triple Digits and Heat Records are Broken All Across the U.S.

Warns that Dogs Left Outside on a Chain or Pen will Die of Heat Exhaustion; Leaving Dogs Outside in Excessive Heat is Extremely Cruel

June 30, 2012 - Smithfield, VA - Dogs Deserve Better, an organization devoted to bringing man's best friend into the home and family, has issued an urgent plea to all dog caretakers who keep their dogs chained or penned to bring them into the homes and air conditioning to save their lives during the current heat wave sweeping much of the U. S.

A dog who is left outside during these incredibly high temperatures is subject not only to loneliness, fleas, worms, a lack of food, water, and exercise, but also to heat indexes well over 100 degrees which can quickly lead to heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and death.

Tamira Thayne, founder and CEO of Dogs Deserve Better, states "Most dogs we see chained or penned have water only once a day if they are lucky. This water is quickly consumed or spilled, leaving them with nothing else and no means of obtaining any as they are chained to a small, confined space. Many have no shade, and experiments conducted by our organization show that the heat index inside the doghouse is typically ten degrees HOTTER than outside. Which means they have no means of relief from the sweltering heat and can quickly die of heat stroke.

"This is extremely cruel, and we are urging EVERY dog caretaker who keeps their dogs outside to do what is morally right and bring them inside to the air conditioning."

Dogs Deserve Better urges everyone to be an advocate for the dog next door. If you see a dog suffering and left outside in the hot temperatures, speak to the caretaker, get the dog water, make him or her shade, and report the abuse to local authorities. If you must intervene as a good samaritan to get a dying dog medical care, thoroughly document the situation with photos and act to save the life. Contact Dogs Deserve Better at 757-357-9292 for help for medical bills for good samaritan acts to save the lives of dogs suffering heatstroke.

For more information, visit the organization at http://www.dogsdeservebetter.org

Dogs Deserve Better is a 501c3 national nonprofit headquarterd in Smithfield, Virginia, and in 2011 bought Michael Vick's former Bad Newz Kennels and is tranforming it to the Good Newz Rehab Center for Chained and Penned Dogs. They have won many awards for their work, including First Place in the 2010 American Dog Humanitarian Awards as a "Voice for Ending the Chaining of Dogs."

Tamira Ci Thayne

Executive Director

Dogs Deserve Better

Smithfield, VA

757-357-9292