Texas law requires that any dog kept outside be given access to adequate shelter. Waco town ordinances specify that adequate shelter must protect the animal from all weather conditions and must not be plastic airline “pet” carriers.

This dog sits next to the airline carrier serving as “shelter.” (Photo taken on January 8, 2023)

Sadly, this dog on Daughtrey Avenue in Waco is chained up with only a plastic airline carrier, and authorities tell complainants and PETA caseworkers that they can do nothing more than issue citations to the owners, who reportedly have a fully functioning and unused doghouse on their property that they are refusing to put within range of the dog.

Please politely urge Waco’s animal services director, Trey Buzbee, to intervene in behalf of this dog, with consideration given to filing charges if appropriate and the prompt confiscation of the animal. You can e-mail Buzbee at jbuzbee@wacotx.gov or call him at 1-254-750-1765. With temperatures expected to dip into the 30s this week, time is of the essence.