The Animal Rescue League of Berks County extended its Code Blue for Reading animals until at least Feb. 4.
The ARL assists with the enforcement for the Code Blue for Reading, said Alyssa Budock, ARL media and communications manager. She said the ARL issued the code Jan. 23 and it will continue past Feb. 4 if the forecasted temperatures do not improve.
Anyone who owns, possesses or has custody of a dog in Reading must bring the animal inside their residence for the duration of the code, except for supervised and necessary bathroom breaks and exercise during those periods.
The measure is part of the Reading City Code, added as amendment in 2015. The temperature parameters are when the National Weather Service predicts a wind chill of 22 degrees or below or precipitation with temperatures below 32 degrees.
Fines for violating the code range from $350 to $1,000, plus impoundment and court costs per violation.
Any person witnessing an unsupervised dog left outside during the code within the city between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. should call the Animal Rescue League of Berks County at 610-373-8830 extension 400. For overnight and after ARL hours, call the non-emergency number for Reading police at 610-655-6116.
“Although we recommend that all pet owners in Berks County bring their pets indoors during extreme weather, Code Blue and Code Red is only enforceable in the City of Reading, and the law only pertains to dogs regardless of breed or tolerance of extreme weather conditions,” the ARL website, berksarl.org, states.