community news - [ Helping Houses operations ]

Hello All,

It's been a while since I've sent a Helping Houses Newsletter, so it's time to get back on the horse! Eric and I are in the thick of the home building process, but as soon as the proverbial dust settles, I'd like to start thinking more about getting this thing going.

In the mean time, please send me your feedback and let me know if you'd like to contribute content to the Helping Houses website.

Andrea

The Michigan Humane Society reports that shelter is required, by law, for any pet that must remain outdoors for any length of time.

The definition of shelter is, at the least, a well-built, insluated, slant-roofed dog house. The interior must be large enough for the animal to stand and lie down comfortably. It must be elevated at least 4 inches from the gorund for circulation, and the door should face away from wind with a protective flap to reduce drafts.

Use hay or straw instead of blankets because blankets may freeze, thus making the animal even colder.

Michigan Humane Society Investigators spent Friday searching for dogs that may have been left out in the bitter cold, WDIV Channel 4 reports.

Investigators had already found one dog dead from exposure when they found a rottweiler chained to car inside an uninsulated garage.

After investigators spoke with the homeowner's daughter, she attempted to bring the dog indoors, but it snapped at her. At that point, investigators decided to seize the dog and bring it to the warm shelter.

Experts advise not to use blankets for dog beds as they retain water and freeze. They recommend hay or straw in dog houses at least 4 inches off the ground.

Read more from WDIV Channel 4...

Greetings to all of our Helping Houses friends,

For those of you new to Helping Houses, our mission is to bring the community together by building and distributing dog houses to animals in need in the Metro Detroit area.

Even though we're in the summer months, now is the time to start thinking about those icy temperatures that endanger so many pets kept outdoors.

We will be setting a date soon to get some folks together to build some Helping Houses. Stay tuned for more details and until then, please pass the word about Helping Houses, and encourage your friends to sign up!