Keeping Canines Cool and Comfortable: How the Pennsylvania Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement Utilizes Kestrel® Meters & DROP Data Loggers

December 6, 2024 Chandler Spinelli Comments

The Pennsylvania Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement relies on Kestrel 7000 Meters and DROP data loggers to enhance canine safety in commercial breeding kennels. Kestrel DROPs, versatile data loggers for environmental monitoring, play a pivotal role in ensuring kennel conditions meet strict regulations designed to protect the health and well-being of dogs. Here’s a look at how the Bureau employs these devices to monitor and improve kennel environments.

Monitoring Canine Kennel Conditions with Kestrel DROPs

Dog wardens with the Bureau strategically position Kestrel DROPs in central locations within kennels, typically hanging them from walls or carabiners on cages. These devices continuously monitor and record temperature, humidity, and heat index, providing crucial data about kennel conditions even when wardens are not present.

The devices collect data every hour, which wardens review during biannual inspections. This long-term monitoring offers valuable insights, particularly during periods of extreme temperatures in winter and summer.

The most significant benefit? The ability to track conditions while wardens are away, ensuring ongoing compliance and creating an opportunity for kennel operators to address issues proactively.

Key Environmental Factors and Challenges

The Bureau focuses on three critical factors: temperature, humidity, and heat index. Regulations established by the Canine Health Board dictate that:

Humidity must remain between 30-70%.
Temperatures and heat index values must stay within 50-85°F.

These thresholds ensure the safety and comfort of the dogs, particularly during extreme weather. Wardens have observed that maintaining humidity within the required range poses the greatest challenge, especially during hot, humid summers and extended rainy periods.

While the DROPs are highly effective, the Bureau has noted a key challenge: humidity sensors may require replacement after two - two and a half years. This challenge can now be addressed with the introduction of the new Kestrel 7000 Environmental Monitoring Meter. Designed for portability and durability, the Kestrel 7000 features a user-replaceable relative humidity sensor, allowing for extended field use without the need to retire the entire device or send the unit back in for calibration. This upgrade makes the Kestrel 7000 an ideal solution for long-term kennel monitoring, ensuring reliable performance while maintaining flexibility for on-the-go inspections.

Impact on Safety and Compliance

The Kestrel 7000 and DROPs are instrumental in identifying and mitigating safety issues in kennels. For instance, the data helps wardens determine when kennels need additional equipment, such as dehumidifiers, or require upgrades to their power sources to handle multiple devices like air conditioners and heaters.

Long-term environmental data collection has significantly improved compliance monitoring. Kennel operators can evaluate their equipment’s effectiveness over time and adjust their setups to meet regulatory requirements. Wardens can also share data with kennel owners via email, enabling better communication and proactive improvements.

Although data from Kestrel meters alone does not lead to citations, it plays a critical role in identifying patterns of non-compliance. Persistent issues may result in requirements for equipment recertification by an engineer, ensuring long-term adherence to regulations.

How Kestrel Data Can Create Safer Kennels

Identify equipment needs: Spot issues like dehumidifier shortages or power upgrades.
Improve compliance monitoring: Track long-term data to meet regulatory standards.
Enable better communication: Share data easily with kennel owners for proactive fixes.
Spot compliance patterns: Flag recurring issues for engineering recertification.

Improved Welfare for Dogs

Since employing Kestrel monitoring tools, wardens have observed measurable improvements in the welfare of dogs in kennels. The strict monitoring of temperature and humidity has made a significant difference in creating safer environments for breeding dogs and puppies.

The Pennsylvania Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement demonstrates how technology like Kestrel meters and DROPs can advance animal welfare by ensuring kennels maintain safe and comfortable conditions year-round. The data-driven approach not only supports compliance but also empowers kennel operators to proactively safeguard the health and well-being of their dogs.

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Chandler Spinelli