BECKY SHINK/Lansing State Journal
Rescued: This puppy, along with other animals, was rescued from a house that was deemed unsuitable for them. The puppies, along with a few ferrets and other pets, are at the Ingham County Animal Control Shelter in Mason.
By Tom Lambert
Lansing State Journal
MASON - Animal control Officer James Lobdell reached into a cage at the county's shelter to pet a mixed lab, whose ribs are showing from malnutrition.
"How are you doing, girl?" Lobdell asked.
The skinny dog was neglected by her owner, then abandoned.
Ingham County Animal Control Shelter took 956 complaints in January - ranging from animal welfare concerns to bites.
That's more than double the 466 complaints it received in January last year.
"What I've seen a lot this winter is people are exposing their animals to the cold weather," said Mari Nicol, the shelter's veterinarian. "Especially with outside dogs. People just don't have properly insulated shelter for them."
With just six days registering above freezing last month, it's been a harsher winter than usual for dogs and cats.
Nicol is quick to point out the statistics have a face.
The mixed lab - weighing 40 pounds, well below its usual weight of 80 - is one of the most gruesome animal neglect cases Nicol has seen in her 20 years as a vet.
"It was horrific," she said. "Its rear end was frostbitten - its body was practically frozen. Why would somebody treat another living thing like this?"
Pet owners need to pay special attention in the winter. Animal experts say cats should be kept inside or at least brought into a warm garage during very cold weather.
Dogs shouldn't be left outside during severely cold weather. Small dogs or short-haired dogs should be brought inside when the temperature reaches 15 to 20 degrees.
Water and food for outside dogs should be increased by 10 percent to 20 percent during the winter and checked every few hours to ensure it hasn't frozen.
Shelter for outside dogs should be well-built, insulated, slant-roofed and elevated slightly for air circulation.
The owner of the frostbitten mixed-lab has five business days to claim her before the dog goes up for adoption.
"We try to hold onto the dog as long as we can," Lobdell said. "But with the condition of the dog, unless somebody feels bad for it, it probably won't be adopted."
And if she isn't adopted, she'll be euthanized.
"It's a tough situation," Lobdell said. "It does make you wonder why some people treat animals the way they do."
In Michigan, pet owners who fail to provide adequate shelter in severe weather can be charged with a misdemeanor punishable by up to 93 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.
Ingham County Animal Control officials investigate cases and send them to the prosecutor's office, Prosecutor Stuart Dunnings III said.
Typically a warning letter is sent in cases where animals are physically OK but left outside in the cold, Dunnings said.
"Sometimes it's just education," he said.
"But after the first warning they will be expected to do what's right."
In a separate animal welfare complaint, animal control officers were called to an East Lansing home last week.
A code enforcement officer ruled the house wasn't up to code. Fourteen pets were taken from their owners.
Three ferrets, two dogs, five puppies and four cats ended up at the shelter.
"The owners will probably reclaim them, but neglect them again," Lobdell said. "That's what we are constantly dealing with. It's a vicious cycle."
Dale Bodiford, an animal control officer for 21 years, said some people have pets just to have them.
"They can't take care of all of them, so they ignore them and then they become our responsibility," he said.
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At work: Animal control Officer James Lobdell says owners must use special care with pets in the winter.
To contact shelter
To make a complaint or if you are interested in adopting an animal, contact the Ingham County Animal Control Shelter at (517) 676-8370.Safety tips for animals in cold weather
Cats should be kept indoors or at least brought into a warm garage during very cold weather.
Dogs should not be left
outside during severely cold weather. Bring small dogs or short-haired dogs inside when the temperature reaches 15 to 20 degrees.
Water and food for outside dogs should be increased by 10 percent to 20 percent during the winter. Food and drinking water should be checked every few hours to make sure they haven't frozen.
Shelter for an outside dog should be well-built, insulated, slant-roofed and slightly elevated for air circulation.
Source: Ingham County Animal Control Shelter
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Contact Tom Lambert at 377-1063 or tlambert@lsj.com.