Though the dog owner is complying with the law, police say, activists argue the law protecting dogs is lax and should be changed.
WARWICK, R.I. — More than two dozen intrepid animal lovers braved frigid conditions Sunday to protest a dog breeder's treatment of his pit bulls.
"Dogs Lives Matter," "Stop Animal Abuse," "Just because it's legal doesn't mean it's right" read the signs protesters carried as they wore a path through the light snowfall across the street from 409 Toll Gate Road.
At issue is Clifford Dennis's care taking for six adult pit bulls. Complaints have been lodged with Warwick Animal Control and the Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals about Dennis leaving the dogs chained outside for long periods of time in the cold.
The RISPCA and Warwick investigated and determined that the animals were healthy and living in insulated shelters with sufficient protection from the elements. Further, RISPCA found that while state law prevents dogs from being tethered for more than 10 hours a day, that there is an exception for any person raising or training a hunting dog, as Dennis is.
Dennis, 55, in the past few days, as a cold snap hit, had taken three of the dogs to a new, warmer location. Three others he moved inside a heated trailer with him on the property in Warwick, Police Major Brad Connor said.
"He was not in violation of anything. That's why he wasn't charged," said Connor Sunday at the protest scene.
It's the state law some protesters rallied against Sunday as passing cars beeped in support.
"We're here today to have this law changed," Larna Gossi said. "He's within the law and that's why their hands are tied."
Anne Diffily, of Warwick, worried about the dogs being chilled due to the breed's lack of an undercoat.
"Three hours is a really long time if you don't have anything on you," Diffily said. Plus, there are reports of the dogs barking all hours of the day, she said.
Others questioned Dennis's explanation that he kept the dogs outside to acclimate them to the weather, given that he said he was raising them to sell to boar hunters down south. It's not cold down south, so the dogs shouldn't need to be acclimated to below-freezing temperatures, they said.
It is not the first time Dennis has raised the ire of animal-rights activists. In 2010, he faced 15 charges of failing to provide adequate shelter to his dogs, 15 counts of having unvaccinated dogs and 15 counts of having unlicensed dogs.
"We are familiar with Mr. Dennis," Connor said. The city has been working with him on animal-control issues, he said.
The RISPCA, in its determination in the Dennis investigation, wrote that it did not condone his method of housing the dogs or training dogs for hog hunting. It urged people concerned about the state law to contact their senators or representatives.
The Warwick police are not allowing anyone to trespass on the 409 Toll Gate Road property.
— kmulvane@providencejournal.com
(401) 277-7417
On Twitter: @kmulvane