Cooler Temperatures: Please Keep People and Pets Safe

News Release: Lowndes County November 13, 2014

Lowndes County, Ga. Due to the arrival of cooler temperatures, Lowndes County would like to remind citizens to take precautions necessary to protect themselves and their pets from the elements. Lowndes County Fire Chief, Richard Guyton, encourages citizens to follow safety standards established by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), in order to safely heat homes. According to the NFPA, Heating equipment is a leading cause of home fire deaths. Please follow these simple tips to keep your family safe during cooler months:

Special attention should also be paid to pets as temperatures begin to drop. Lowndes County Animal Welfare Officers are prepared to ticket citizens with pets kept in conditions that do not meet the minimum standards of care outlined in city and county Animal Welfare Ordinances.

Pet owners are required to provide adequate food, water and shelter at all times. During periods of cold weather, a little extra food for animals that must remain outside will provide the calories their bodies need to keep warm. Animals can still become dehydrated in cooler temperatures; a constant supply of clean drinking water is required by the local ordinances. In addition, pets left outside must be provided with proper shelter and bedding which is normally defined by a house type shelter and bedding manufactured for pet use. Common examples of shelter methods that DO NOT meet local ordinances include:

Attention to detail and the appropriate preparedness measures will ensure the safety of all Lowndes County citizens as temperatures begin to dip over the next few months.

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Cooler Temperatures: Please Keep People and Pets Safe