Animal Control: Dog Living On Rooftop Not Illegal

MIAMI (CBSMiami) — The owner of G and G Produce had apparently had a tough time with security.

After thieves hit the warehouse stealing copper and AC units, they went to the extreme of fencing in the rooftop with barbed wire and Burro, one of two American bulldogs at the site.

The move upset animal activists, especially with regard to the rooftop temperatures rising over 100 degrees.  "Our first complaint we received last July.  We came out we reviewed the condition of the dogs." Sean Gallagher with Miami-Dade Animal Control said.

Miami-Dade Animal Control knows the site all too well: they practically make monthly stops at the warehouse.

"Anytime we receive a complaint, whether we've been there once or ten times obviously we are going to go out and follow-up to makes sure the animal is in a healthy condition," Gallagher said.

Lately the complaints had been increasing.

Animal activists have been campaigning on social media even petitioning to save the dogs. A protest is planned for next week.  On Friday, at the request of the City of Miami, the county did a third inspection this week with a Miami code enforcement officer tagging along.

What did they find? Gallagher told us "The dog is in perfectly good body condition. He doesn't appear to be injured or have any health issues."

Keeping a dog outside, even on a rooftop is not illegal.

Gallagher explained, "Not as long as it has access to food, water and shelter. Every circumstance is going to be different."

With that, the investigators left, but the manager of G and G, who was too busy to speak on camera, told us he's over it.  The dog won't be going on the rooftop anymore.   The distractions have become too much.  G and G also worked out a deal with Miami Police to help patrol the area more often.