By Allan Jamail
Galena Park, TX. – July 4, 2022 – Galena Park Police Chief Richard Wagner and Jacinto City Police Chief Joe Ayala and their officers will be keeping a careful watch for possible dangers or difficulties the city’s pets may encounter this hot summer.
Chief Wagner said, “If people would test their own foot to the temperature of where their pet’s paw is on then they’d understand the pain their pet is being exposed to. If it’s too hot for your foot, it’s too hot for their paw.”
Galena Park Officer E. Reyna said people take their pets out for a walk without concern for their need of water or about the scorching pavement on their paws. He said if they’d imagine their dog asking, “What would it be like if you walked a mile in my paws on the hot pavement and without water?”
Detective Jessica Bolanos said, “A pet is no different than us humans when it comes to needing to be hydrated in the triple digit high temperatures.”
Jacinto City Police Chief Joe Ayala has said his officers would be extra vigilant this summer on pet care. He urges citizens to call and report anonymously if they desire to report animal cruelty.
Most all children naturally want a pet, but one of the worst things parents can do is to get a pet and then neglect it and let the pet suffer and not be cared for. It’s a parent’s responsibility to teach their child how to provide for their pet with water and food. In the first place people should never get a pet if they don’t have the means for caring for it properly. But if they get one and then later realize they can’t properly care for it, they should give it to someone who will or call one of the many pet care facilities.
Pets should be vaccinated against the rabies and other diseases’ and given heart worm prevention medication. Heart worms are easy for a pet to get by being bitten by a mosquito when taken outside or if they’re an outside pet.
Dogs kept outdoors are the most common pets to be mistreated, 70 percent of animal cruelty cases is dogs. With daytime temperatures in the high 90’s and 100’s it doesn’t take long before a pet can have a heat stroke.
Warning signs of a heat stroke in a dog can be recognized by the early warning sign of their mouth becoming partially open and panting or breathing with short quick breaths like it’s out of breath. If their mouth becomes fully open with rapid pants it means the dog is on the verge of a heat stroke. It must immediately be cooled off by putting it in front of a fan or into air-conditioning and given fresh cool water. If the symptoms persist quickly get it to a veterinarian.
Dogs sweat and cool-off by drooling (dripping) from the mouth, small amounts of dripping from the mouth is normal but a constant large amount of drooling (sweating) is a sign of over-heating and the dog cannot cool itself off without help; it will need lots of water to prevent dehydration (inadequate body fluids) and a heat stroke.
It’s a serious crime to abandon an animal for a unreasonably long time and or leaving it in a hot vehicle, transporting or confining it in a cruel manner, permitting unjustified or unwarranted pain or suffering or failing to provide fresh cool water, food and shelter for a animal to maintain a state of good health, are crimes.
Texas law provides filing animal cruelty charges either as a felony or misdemeanor, the severity of cruelty will determine which of the two types of charges will be filed against the pet owner or keeper of the pet. If convicted of felony animal cruelty punishment can be up to two years in jail and or a $10,000 fine. Also any animals in your direct care may be removed by a local humane society or law enforcement. You may be prohibited from owning animals in the future. Persons convicted under the age of 18 are also required to undergo counseling.
Phone numbers for reporting animal cruelty: Houston Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals 713- 869-7722 (HSPCA), they also provide a 7/24 animal ambulance for injured animals at 713-880-HELP (4357) and Harris County Animal Cruelty Task Force 832-927- 7297 (PAWS).
Texas criminal laws can be enforced by any law enforcement agency including animal cruelty laws. Phone numbers to keep in your cell phone for reporting any crime:
Houston Police – 713-884-3131,
Harris County Sheriff Office 713-221-6000,
Jacinto City Police – 713- 672-2455,
Galena Park Police – 713-675-3471,
Constable Pct. 2 Jerry Garcia – 713-477-4070,
Constable Pct. 3 Sherman Eagleton – 713-274-2500.
Coming soon will be the Texas New Leash Law passed this past session.