Brighten Your Day

Michigan Animal Control Officers Are Sleeping Outside In Dog Houses To Raise Awareness

January 5, 2018

Officers at Saginaw County Animal Control in Michigan will be sleeping in a dog house on a cold January night to raise awareness about a serious issue.

The officers say they take calls every day about animals, especially dogs, left out in the elements too long.

"We're their voice, we're the ones that step up to the plate for them," said Officer Joaquin Guerrero.

Guerrero and two other officers will be in custom-made dog houses at the Saginaw Correctional Facility.

"It'll fit to our body size so we're able to crawl in and sit down in them," Guerrero said.

They'll have some straw inside, and then the officers will try to stay warm, just like a dog would. Students from Hemmeter Elementary will be there to monitor the officers' temperatures and comfort levels throughout the night for a school project.

"Lot of times when people become dog owners they think, 'Oh they're a dog, they can sustain, do whatever.' But they're not educated for the summer weather, the fall, the spring, the winter, and we run into these problems," Guerrero said.

"We've got to be that voice for them. We've got to help them so it doesn't happen, so we don't find these animals frozen. And that, we can't save them all, but the ones we can save, or the awareness we can bring, that just keeps educating more people and more people."

Community members are welcome to stop by and cheer them on. They will also be taking monetary donations for the Saginaw County Animal Care Center. Money raised will go to caring for the animals.