MASON CITY – NIT readers reported that a dog was outside in subzero temps, left on a sidewalk at Mason City house – but animal control says it’s “just fine”.
The call to authorities came in after 11 AM about a dog that was curled up in a ball on a sidewalk at 722 North Madison. Reportedly, the dog had been there, motionless, since 9:30 AM.
At the scene, these was indeed a husky outside the back door of the house. Mason City animal control officer Pat Gansen was there, checking on the animal.
“The dog appears to be just fine,” Ms. Gansen told NIT. “That’s a husky. They do the Iditarod. They like to be outside.”
Temps at 9:30 AM until noon were below zero. The dog lifted its head and looked around, and then slowly lowered her head.
Ms. Gansen told NIT that reports like this one have to be taken, so to speak, with a grain of salt, as sometime the callers don’t see how the dog is actually being treated.
“The call was that the dog was out since 9:30 AM, but they may not have seen the dog being taken inside.”
The residents of the house were not home, and Ms. Gansen was leaving a note requesting a call-back. She stated she might drive by later to check on the dog.