Nicole June Reporting
njune@clarksvillenow.com

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – A viral video showing two dogs howling in a snowy Clarksville backyard has sparked outrage and confusion within the community.

The video, posted last week, has spread through social media and even inspired an online petition titled “Dogs Crying In Agony Left Out In The Cold! Demand Punishment For The Owners!”

See the video below:

ClarksvilleNow.com was contacted by several concerned citizens about the issue and our staff reached out to local authorities to determine whether the dogs are in any danger and what has been done to protect them.

Montgomery County Animal Control Director Jeanette Farrell said the agency received a call about the dogs last Friday and sent an officer to the location to investigate the claim. She then visited the owner to investigate further.

“We have been inundated with calls and emails regarding this viral video,” she said. “I went out there to assess the situation myself.”

Farrell described the video as misleading, saying it did not show the whole property, which did have two doghouses at the time of inspection. One was in compliance with county regulations and the other was considered ‘borderline.’

The Clarksville Police Department (CPD) also visited the owner to investigate the claims and agreed with Animal Control’s assessment. They responded to the incident on the department’s Facebook page.

“In the video, it appears that the dogs were left out in the cold with no shelter. The problem with this is that the video only showed a corner of the fence. It did not include the shelters provided for the dogs. Not only did the owner provide these dogs with shelter, but the shelters are heated and insulated,” Public Information Officer Natalie Hall said. “What the public must know is that this story is false and did not include the facts. This post and video were turned into unnecessary drama for reasons that are unknown.”

Photos courtesy of Jeanette Farrell, Montgomery County Animal Control Director

The dogs’ owner agreed to purchase a new, larger doghouse to better accommodate the animals.

“The owner has been extremely responsive throughout this situation,” Farrell said. “The owner has gone above and beyond on ensuring the second doghouse is in compliance.”

Farrell noted that the size, breed, and ages of the animals help determine what makes an outdoor shelter acceptable.

“They are husky-type dogs and are acclimated to this weather, maybe not necessarily in this area, but they are long-coated dogs and they do howl,” she said.

The dogs appeared to be in good health with plenty of food, water, and proper care.

According to the police report, the responding officer stated that the dogs did not bark at him and his Sergeant at all while they were at the scene.

The report also states that the two dogs were both rescues that the current owner saved from being euthanized.

Farrell wishes to maintain the anonymity of the owner and his family since they have received threats following the release of the video.

“Animal Control has done what they needed to do for the safety of those animals, and so has the owner,” she said. “I always encourage anyone who has a concern about animal welfare to call Animal Control immediately. If they are unable to reach us they can call 911, but definitely always try Animal Control first and we will always take every complaint seriously and have an officer respond and ensure that the animal has adequate food, water, and shelter and that there is no harm to the animal.”

To contact Animal Control, call 931-648-5750.