(WWJ) -- A change to the state constitution could be on its way, in an attempt to keep pets safe during the winter months.
State Sen. Dayna Polehanki (D-Livonia) has introduced Senate Bill 395, which would require pet owners to keep their pets in a warm environment when temperatures dip below freezing, or 32 degrees Fahrenheit.
The bill would allow pets to remain outside in cold temperatures for up to 30 minute at a time, or for an extended period of time when participating in a recreational activity like walking.
The bill says if the dog is left outside for 30 minutes in sub-freezing temperatures, it must be brought indoors to an enclosed space heated to at least 45 degrees.
Polehanki says discussion in her hometown this winter led to the proposed legislation after Livonia residents voiced concerns on social media and at city council meetings to protest a homeowner that left his two beagles outside while metro Detroit was experiencing a dose of cold weather, according to a story from Hometown Life.
That incident ultimately led to a local ordinance limiting how long pets can be left outside in extreme heat or cold temps, as well as for all pets to be leashed when off the owner's property.
