Companion Animals Are Dying in Cold Weather—These Are the Reported Cases
Last updated on December 20, 2024:
The number of dogs and other companion animals who have reportedly died from causes related to cold weather in 2024:
35
Every year, PETA receives reports about dogs, cats, and other animals who died or had to be rescued after being left outdoors in cold weather—and these are just the incidents that were reported. Most aren’t.
Year | Deaths | Rescues | Incidents |
2024 | 35 | 582 | See the list. |
2023 | 13 | 644 | See the list. |
2022 | 35 | 364 | See the list. |
2021 | 22 | 475 | See the list. |
2020 | 6 | 77 | See the list. |
2019 | 37 | 322 | See the list. |
2018 | 43 | 34 | See the list. |
The following list is a compilation of cold weather–related deaths of companion animals reported by the media as of 2024:
Date | Location | Notes | Number of Dogs and Other Animals Who Died |
12/11/2024 | Goodland Township, Michigan | A dog died after falling into an icy pond, and her guardian also lost her life trying to rescue her. | 1 |
12/04/2024 | Arlington, Virginia | A dog had to be euthanized after being found emaciated and suffering from severe hypothermia due to prolonged exposure to the cold. | 1 |
11/30/2024 | Decatur, Tennessee | A woman has been accused of abandoning a mother dog and her newborn puppies outside a laundromat in subzero temperatures. Three of the puppies died, while the remaining five and their mother were rescued. | 3 |
4/28/2024 | Tacoma, Washington | Five kittens were found nearly frozen in a box left outside. One of them later died. | 1 |
3/23/2024 | Cass County, North Dakota | A cat was euthanized after being found sick and freezing outside. | 1 |
3/22/2024 | Ottawa, Ontario, Canada | A small dog died after falling through the ice on a partially frozen river. | 1 |
3/20/2024 | Middletown, Ohio | Three dogs who had been tied up in the cold without food were rescued. One later died. | 1 |
3/18/2024 | Paducah, Kentucky | A mother dog lost her six puppies to cold and dehydration after she was tied up outside unable to reach them. | 6 |
2/17/2024 | Wimauma, Florida | A family of dogs was thrown from a car. Some of them died from hypothermia. | 4 |
1/31/2024 | Houston, Texas | A mother cat lost three of her four kittens before being rescued from the cold. | 3 |
1/23/2024 | Lafayette County, Mississippi | Deputies found two dead and six barely living dogs on a property during a wellness check. | 2 |
1/21/2024 | Guilford County, North Carolina | A dog froze to death after being abandoned in a box outside an animal shelter on a cold night. | 1 |
1/21/2024 | Lysander, New York | Two dogs died after falling through the ice on a river. | 2 |
1/15/2024 | Cape Girardeau, Missouri | Six dogs were saved and two were found dead both inside and outside a residence. None of the dogs had access to heat. | 2 |
1/14/2024 | Casey County, Kentucky | Forty-four dogs were rescued from a freezing-cold house where two had frozen solid. | 2 |
1/14/2024 | Giltner, Nebraska | One dog died and another was recovering from hypothermia after being left outside on a freezing-cold day. | 1 |
1/4/2024 | Franklin County, Pennsylvania | Two emaciated and freezing dogs were rescued from the cold outside a home. A third dog had recently died. | 1 |
1/4/2024 | Wasilla, Alaska | Three cats—one of whom was frozen to death—were found outside in a bag. | 1 |
1/2/2024 | Cambridge, Ontario, Canada | A frozen cat was found outside someone’s home. | 1 |
The following list is a compilation of cold weather–related rescues of companion animals reported by the media as of 2024:
Date | Location | Notes | Number of Dogs and Other Animals Who Were Rescued |
12/16/2024 | Westford, Massachusetts | A 20-year-old blind cat was rescued from an icy pond by two construction workers. | 1 |
12/14/2024 | Sioux Falls, South Dakota | Three dogs fell through the ice at a pond. Two of the dogs were able to reach safety on their own, but one had to be rescued by the fire department. | 1 |
12/11/2024 | Aurora, Colorado | Two dogs were rescued after they fell through the ice at a park. | 2 |
12/10/2024 | Verona, New Jersey | Two cats were rescued after being left in freezing temperatures outside a shelter. | 2 |
12/09/2024 | Spartanburg County, South Carolina | Four dogs were rescued after a police report stated they had been tied to trees and left in cages without food or water for days in freezing temperatures. | 4 |
12/09/2024 | Hammond, New York | A dog was rescued after falling through the ice on a creek. | 1 |
12/08/2024 | Clinton, Maine | A dog was rescued after falling through the ice. | 1 |
12/08/2024 | Ottawa, Ontario, Canada | Ottawa Fire Services responded to three ice rescues involving dogs in the first week of December. | 3 |
12/08/2024 | Hyde Park, New York | A litter of kittens was rescued after being abandoned in a shelter’s parking lot during freezing temperatures. | 10 |
12/08/2024 | Wausau, Wisconsin | The fire department rescued a dog after falling through the ice. | 1 |
12/06/2024 | Spartanburg, South Carolina | A puppy was rescued after being left tethered outside overnight in below-freezing temperatures. | 1 |
12/05/2024 | Dutchess County, New York | The local fire department rescued a dog after he fell through the ice. | 1 |
12/05/2024 | Boulder, Colorado | A man crawled onto the ice of a frozen river to rescue his dogs after they fell through the ice. | 2 |
12/3/2024 | St. Louis, Missouri | A dog was rescued after she was found shivering on a doormat. | 1 |
11/30/2024 | Decatur, Tennessee | A woman has been accused of abandoning a mother dog and her newborn puppies outside a laundromat in subzero temperatures. Three of the puppies died, while the remaining five and their mother were rescued. | 6 |
10/17/2024 | Gentry, Arkansas | Three newborn puppies were rescued after being abandoned in a dumpster during freezing weather. | 3 |
5/4/2024 | Greater Sudbury, Ontario, Canada | A dog, too cold to swim back to shore, was rescued from an island. | 1 |
4/28/2024 | Tacoma, Washington | Five kittens were found nearly frozen in a box left outside. One of them later died. | 4 |
4/25/2024 | Calgary, Alberta, Canada | A woman jumped into a cold river to rescue a dog. | 1 |
4/24/2024 | Plainfield, New Jersey | Four kittens who were left in front of an animal shelter were placed in a heating pad to help them recover from the cold. | 4 |
4/23/2024 | West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada | A dog was rescued after a day spent lost on a snowy mountain. | 1 |
4/19/2024 | Kewanee, Illinois | Firefighters rescued a shivering dog from a well. | 1 |
4/12/2024 | Michigamme Township, Michigan | A dog was rescued after spending approximately 90 minutes in frigid lake water that gave two first responders hypothermia. | 1 |
4/8/2024 | Northern Manitoba, Manitoba, Canada | A dog and her 12 puppies were rescued from the cold in northern Canada. | 13 |
4/7/2024 | Regional District of Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada | A dog was rescued from the cold after spending a night on a mountain. | 1 |
4/4/2024 | Saskatchewan, Canada | Seven puppies were rescued from the cold after being abandoned at a dump. | 7 |
4/3/2024 | Cumberland, New Jersey | A total of 120 dogs, some of whom were kept out in the cold and rain, were rescued from an alleged dogfighting ring. | 120 |
3/24/2024 | Dedham, Massachusetts | A rain-soaked cat was rescued from a cold mall parking garage. | 1 |
3/20/2024 | Middletown, Ohio | Three dogs who had been tied up in the cold without food were rescued. One later died. | 2 |
3/19/2024 | Marblehead, Massachusetts | A dog who had escaped from her yard and run into the ocean was rescued by the harbormaster. | 1 |
3/18/2024 | Swearengin, Alabama | A cold and frightened dog was rescued after becoming stuck in a cave. | 1 |
3/18/2024 | Paducah, Kentucky | A mother dog lost her six puppies to cold and dehydration after she was tied up outside unable to reach them. | 1 |
3/18/2024 | Akron, Ohio | A dog was rescued from the frigid waters of a river. | 1 |
3/17/2024 | South Amboy, New Jersey | A dog who had been missing and got hit by a car was rescued after two days in the cold. | 1 |
3/16/2024 | Prince George, British Columbia, Canada | A man crawled out onto the ice of a partially frozen river to rescue his dog, who had fallen through the ice. | 1 |
3/14/2024 | Sudbury District, Ontario, Canada | A dog was rescued after being stuck on the ice of a lake for more than an hour. | 1 |
3/14/2024 | Oswego, New York | A man and his dog were rescued from the near-freezing waters of Lake Ontario. | 1 |
3/14/2024 | Lake Country, British Columbia, Canada | A woman found three cold dogs abandoned in a dog park early in the morning. | 3 |
3/14/2024 | Hopatcong, New Jersey | A police officer used a paddleboard to rescue a dog who’d fallen through the ice of a lake. | 1 |
3/13/2024 | Fairfield, Maine | Two dogs were rescued after getting stuck on the ice of a pond. One of them fell into the water and sustained major injuries. | 2 |
3/11/2024 | Ogden, Utah | Rescuers hoisted a shivering dog out of a cold, wet hole inside a warehouse. | 1 |
3/9/2024 | Brookfield, New Hampshire | A dog left on a balcony overnight was rescued from the cold rain. | 1 |
3/8/2024 | Iron Mountain, Michigan | Two dogs were rescued after falling through the ice on a partially frozen lake. | 2 |
3/6/2024 | Concord, New Hampshire | A passerby broke the ice on a partially frozen pond to help a dog who’d fallen in swim back to shore. | 1 |
3/6/2024 | Bedford County, Virginia | A police officer saved a dog from a frigid swimming pool. | 1 |
3/4/2024 | Chisago County, Minnesota | A police officer borrowed a kayak to save a dog who had fallen through the ice of a partially frozen lake. | 1 |
3/3/2024 | Blue River, Colorado | A dog was lost for 10 days after falling into very deep snow near their house. | 1 |
3/1/2024 | Caseville Township, Michigan | A dog was rescued by firefighters after chasing a bird and falling through thin ice on Lake Huron. | 1 |
3/1/2024 | Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada | An emaciated and freezing dog was found tied to a carrier in the snow. | 1 |
3/1/2024 | Newtown, Connecticut | A dog was rescued by firefighters after getting spooked and hiding in a cold, wet storm drain. | 1 |
3/1/2024 | Tullahoma, Tennessee | A cold dog was found barely alive in a trash bag at the bottom of a dumpster. | 1 |
2/28/2024 | Ottawa, Ontario, Canada | A dog was rescued after falling through the ice of a partially frozen river. | 1 |
2/28/2024 | Chicago, Illinois | A starving and cold dog was found in a park. | 1 |
2/27/2024 | Northborough, Massachusetts | Firefighters rescued a woman and her dog after they got stuck in mud and ice. | 1 |
2/23/2024 | Lorain, Ohio | Firefighters rescued a shivering puppy who had fallen into a sump pump. | 1 |
2/20/2024 | Spokane, Washington | A dog was rescued after months of being spotted around the neighborhood. | 1 |
2/18/2024 | Baldwin Township, Minnesota | Firefighters rescued a dog after the animal fell through the ice on a partially frozen lake. | 1 |
2/17/2024 | St. Louis, Missouri | A dog and her six puppies were rescued from an abandoned building on a below-freezing day. | 7 |
2/17/2024 | Harrisburg, Pennsylvania | An emaciated dog was rescued from an unheated garage where she had been abandoned. | 1 |
2/17/2024 | Casper, Wyoming | A dog was rescued after getting stuck on an icy island surrounded by a frigid river. | 1 |
2/17/2024 | Wimauma, Florida | A family of dogs was thrown from a car. Some of them died from hypothermia. | 3 |
2/14/2024 | Chelmsford, Massachusetts | Animal control officers rescued a dog who had fallen into a partially frozen pond. | 1 |
2/13/2024 | Rock Springs, Wyoming | A cat was saved after being left in a plastic bag outside a rescue facility on a cold night. | 1 |
2/8/2024 | Robertson County, Kentucky | Fourteen dogs were rescued from a breeder who had kept them in unheated structures during freezing temperatures. | 14 |
2/7/2024 | Plainfield, New Jersey | An emaciated senior cat was abandoned in a crate outside an animal shelter on a cold night. | 1 |
2/6/2024 | Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada | Firefighters used a dinghy to rescue a dog who had fallen through the ice on a partially frozen pond. | 1 |
2/6/2024 | Coalinga, California | Two puppies were taken to an animal shelter after being found in the cold rain. | 2 |
2/5/2024 | Neshannock Township, Pennsylvania | A dog was rescued after being found in a cold crate near a dock. | 1 |
2/4/2024 | Lincoln, Nebraska | A dog was rescued after falling through the ice on a pond. | 1 |
2/2/2024 | La Ronge, Saskatchewan, Canada | A woman and her dog were rescued after their vehicle fell through the ice on a partially frozen lake. | 1 |
2/2/2024 | Long Grove, Illinois | Firefighters rescued a dog from a partially frozen pond. | 1 |
2/1/2024 | Hickory, North Carolina | A dog was brought in from the cold after being left in a crate outside a humane society. | 1 |
1/31/2024 | Sanford, North Carolina | A dog looking to escape the cold was rescued after turning up on a man’s doorstep. | 1 |
1/31/2024 | Meridian, Mississippi | A nearly frozen dog was rescued from a yard during below-freezing temperatures. | 1 |
1/31/2024 | Houston, Texas | A mother cat lost three of her four kittens before being rescued from the cold. | 2 |
1/30/2024 | New Melle, Missouri | A dog was rescued from a pond after falling through the thinning ice. | 1 |
1/30/2024 | Crozet, Virginia | A dog was rescued after stepping on thin ice and falling into a pond. | 1 |
1/29/2024 | Waterbury, Connecticut | A cat was stuck in a tree for three days during freezing weather. | 1 |
1/28/2024 | Fort Wayne, Indiana | A police officer rescued two dogs from an icy pond. | 2 |
1/26/2024 | Yakima, Washington | A cat was abandoned in a box outside a shelter on a freezing-cold night. | 1 |
1/25/2024 | Kenosha, Wisconsin | A dog was rescued from icy lake water by the Coast Guard. | 1 |
1/24/2024 | Braintree, Massachusetts | Rescuers saved a dog who was clinging to the ice with his front paws after falling into a partially frozen river. | 1 |
1/24/2024 | La Salle, Illinois | Firefighters rescued a dog who had fallen through the ice of a partially frozen pond. | 1 |
1/24/2024 | Paterson, New Jersey | A malnourished dog was recovering after being abandoned in the cold. | 1 |
1/24/2024 | Greenfield, Massachusetts | A dog was rescued after falling through the ice on a river. | 1 |
1/23/2024 | Lafayette County, Mississippi | Deputies found two dead and six barely living dogs on a property during a wellness check. | 6 |
1/22/2024 | Henderson, Kentucky | A cat was rescued after being stuck in a tree for three nights in the bitter cold. | 1 |
1/22/2024 | Benton County, Tennessee | A dog was rescued after getting stuck in a cold pond in the animal’s backyard. | 1 |
1/21/2024 | Mount Olive, New Jersey | Police officers rescued two dogs who had been abandoned 10 miles from home in the cold. | 2 |
1/21/2024 | Toppenish, Washington | Six puppies were rescued from a sealed bin in which they had been left out in the cold. | 6 |
1/21/2024 | Indianapolis, Indiana | An animal control officer saved two dogs and a man who was unable to speak or move—all of whom were succumbing to the cold in their backyard. | 2 |
1/20/2024 | Canton, Ohio | A dog was rescued from an icy riverbank during below-freezing temperatures. | 1 |
1/20/2024 | Oakland, California | A shivering dog was rescued after being stuck in a well for several hours. | 1 |
1/20/2024 | Monroe County, West Virginia | Thirty-five dogs who were being kept outdoors in frigid temperatures were rescued. | 35 |
1/20/2024 | Cambridge, Ontario, Canada | A dog went missing on a cold night and was rescued from an icy river the next day. | 1 |
1/20/2024 | Southfields, New York | A cat was rescued from the woods during subfreezing temperatures. | 1 |
1/19/2024 | Peoria, Illinois | A snowplow driver rescued a small dog he saw outside while plowing. | 1 |
1/19/2024 | Bowling Green, Kentucky | A cat was found nearly frozen outside. | 1 |
1/19/2024 | Waterbury, Connecticut | Twenty-two caged cats were left in the snow outside an animal control office. | 22 |
1/19/2024 | Stone County, Missouri | Fifty-five dogs were rescued from a property where they were being kept without food or shelter. | 55 |
1/19/2024 | South Bend, Indiana | A dog was rescued after chasing a goose onto a partially frozen river and falling through the ice. | 1 |
1/19/2024 | Georgetown County, South Carolina | A dog was rescued by animal control after being found in the cold for the second time. | 1 |
1/18/2024 | Sapphire, North Carolina | A police officer rescued a stray dog when temperatures dropped to the teens. | 1 |
1/18/2024 | Fayetteville, Arkansas | A dog was rescued after falling through the ice on a lake. | 1 |
1/18/2024 | Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania | Two dogs were rescued after being tossed from a moving car into a snowbank. | 2 |
1/18/2024 | Qunicy, Massachusetts | A dog was rescued after being left in a car in below-freezing temperatures. | 1 |
1/18/2024 | Colchester, Vermont | A dog was rescued after getting stranded on the ice in a bay. | 1 |
1/18/2024 | Texas | A woman tried to save three cats from the cold but only managed to bring in one. | 1 |
1/17/2024 | Tarrant, Alabama | A dog was confiscated from their owner after being left out in the cold. | 1 |
1/17/2024 | Beaumont, Alberta, Canada | A dog was rescued from the cold eight days after leaving their property through an open gate. | 1 |
1/17/2024 | Cherryville, British Columbia, Canada | Seven dogs were rescued from a backyard breeder who was keeping them outside in the cold. | 7 |
1/17/2024 | Wilkin County, Minnesota | Seventeen neglected dogs were rescued from a home without heat. | 17 |
1/16/2024 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | A professional tree climber saved a cat who had been stuck in a tree for three cold days. | 1 |
1/16/2024 | San Antonio, Texas | A family of dogs was rescued from the cold. | 5 |
1/16/2024 | Jackson County, Michigan | A dog owner was told to return home and bring their dog inside after animal control noticed the animal out in the cold. | 1 |
1/16/2024 | Algona, Iowa | A man and a dog were rescued from a car that had gotten stuck in a snowdrift. | 1 |
1/15/2024 | Kansas City, Missouri | A dog was rescued from the cold outside a vacant home. | 1 |
1/15/2024 | Haledon, New Jersey | Officials rescued a dog who was outside and showing signs of frostbite. | 1 |
1/15/2024 | Cape Girardeau, Missouri | Six dogs were saved and two were found dead both inside and outside a residence. None of the dogs had access to heat. | 6 |
1/15/2024 | Gibson County, Indiana | Firefighters rescued a dog who had fallen into an icy pond. | 1 |
1/15/2024 | Detroit, Michigan | A dog lying in the snow was rescued. | 1 |
1/15/2024 | Georgetown Township, Michigan | A dog was rescued by firefighters after falling through the ice on a partially frozen lake. | 1 |
1/15/2024 | Alpena County, Michigan | Firefighters from three departments collaborated in rescuing a dog who had fallen through the ice on a marsh. | 1 |
1/15/2024 | West Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada | A frostbitten cat was rescued from the cold. | 1 |
1/15/2024 | Midland, Michigan | A dog was rescued by firefighters after falling into an icy river. | 1 |
1/14/2024 | St. Clair, Missouri | Various animals, including 19 dogs, were rescued from the bitter cold. | 19 |
1/14/2024 | Georgetown, Colorado | A dog was rescued from a highway during a snowstorm. | 1 |
1/14/2024 | Casey County, Kentucky | Forty-four dogs were rescued from a freezing-cold house where two had frozen solid. | 44 |
1/14/2024 | Clearfield, Utah | A dog was rescued by firefighters after falling through the ice of a pond. | 1 |
1/14/2024 | Cold Brook, New York | Two people capsized their boats while trying to rescue a dog who had fallen through the ice at a reservoir. | 1 |
1/14/2024 | Giltner, Nebraska | One dog died and another was recovering from hypothermia after being left outside on a freezing-cold day. | 1 |
1/14/2024 | Indianapolis, Indiana | A dog was rescued after being outside for hours in the snow during subzero temperatures. | 1 |
1/13/2024 | Kansas City, Missouri | Six puppies under a house were rescued during a cold snap. | 6 |
1/13/2024 | Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada | Four cats were trapped and brought indoors to save them from below-freezing temperatures. | 4 |
1/13/2024 | Youngsville, Louisiana | An abandoned dog was found shivering just before a hard freeze. | 1 |
1/13/2024 | Sandy, Oregon | Two humans and a dog were rescued when their car got stuck during an arctic blast. | 1 |
1/13/2024 | West Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada | Two people and a dog fell through the ice on a lake and were rescued by bystanders. | 1 |
1/12/2024 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | A cat who had been living under rocks by the beach for weeks was rescued before a cold snap. | 1 |
1/12/2024 | Green Bay, Wisconsin | A cat was rescued from the cold and treated for frostbite. | 1 |
1/10/2024 | Burt Township, Michigan | A specialized rope-rescue team saved a cold dog who had fallen 60 feet off a cliff during the night. | 1 |
1/9/2024 | Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania | A dog was rescued after escaping on a cold, windy day and getting stuck in a storm drain. | 1 |
1/9/2024 | Wichita, Kansas | A cat was rescued after veterinary workers heard the animal mewling in the snow behind an animal hospital. | 1 |
1/9/2024 | De Soto, Iowa | A dog who got lost during a car crash was found after spending a day out in a winter storm. | 1 |
1/9/2024 | West Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada | A frostbitten cat was found in the cold. | 1 |
1/9/2024 | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | A cat who was out in the cold was rescued and adopted on the spot. | 1 |
1/9/2024 | Lloydminster, Alberta, Canada | A cat was rescued after getting stuck in a cat trap in -32°C (-25°F) weather. | 1 |
1/8/2024 | Windsor, Ontario, Canada | A cat is recovering after falling into an ice-cold pool. | 1 |
1/6/2024 | Lincoln, New Brunswick, Canada | Two dogs were rescued from an icy river. One had fallen in, and the other was refusing to leave their side. | 2 |
1/5/2024 | Liberty, Maine | Two dogs were rescued from an icy lake. One had fallen in, and the other was trapped on the ice. | 2 |
1/4/2024 | Wasilla, Alaska | Three cats—one of whom was frozen to death—were found outside in a bag. | 2 |
1/4/2024 | Wichita, Kansas | A mother dog and her five pups were abandoned in a bag in the cold soon after she gave birth to them. | 6 |
1/4/2024 | Franklin County, Pennsylvania | Two emaciated and freezing dogs were rescued from the cold outside a home. A third dog had recently died. | 2 |
1/4/2024 | Saratoga Springs, New York | A man allegedly abducted his neighbor’s cat and then abandoned the feline outside an animal shelter in frigid temperatures. | 1 |
1/2/2024 | St. Louis, Missouri | An extremely skinny dog was found huddled beside a house, shivering in the cold. | 1 |
1/2/2024 | Colorado Springs, Colorado | Firefighters rescued a dog who had fallen into an icy lake. | 1 |
No animal should endure a cold weather–related death. It’s inexcusable.
As guardians, we must take these vital steps in order to protect our beloved animal family members:
1. Keep animals indoors.
Puppies and kittens, elderly animals, small animals, and dogs with short hair, including pointers, beagles, pit bulls, Rottweilers, and Dobermans, are particularly susceptible to the elements, but all animal companions should be kept warm and cozy indoors. Short-haired animals will also benefit from wearing warm sweaters or coats during brief trips outdoors.
2. Don’t allow your cat or dog to roam outdoors without supervision.
Being outside unattended is always dangerous for our animal companions, but cold weather poses even more risks. Cats can climb under the hoods of cars in order to get near warm engines and then be badly injured or killed when the vehicle is started.
3. Keep an eye out for strays.
If you see companion animals roaming the streets, bring them indoors until you can find their guardians, or take them to an animal shelter.
4. Clean dogs after they come in from the snow.
Salt and chemicals used to counter snow can make animals sick if they ingest them. Always clean off your dogs’ legs, paws, and stomach after they’ve been out in the snow. If you use antifreeze, buy a nontoxic brand like Sierra or Prestone LowTox.
5. If you see dogs left outdoors in extreme weather without proper shelter, alert the authorities.
Winter weather spells extra hardship for “backyard dogs,” who often go without adequate food, water, shelter, and veterinary care. If you see animals left outside without shelter from the elements, note their location and alert local authorities immediately.
6. Help all animals survive cold snaps.
During extreme winter conditions, you can provide birds and other wildlife with access to water by filling a heavy nonmetal water bowl (tongues can freeze to metal) and breaking the surface ice twice a day.
When the weather improves, be sure to remove any food offerings in order to prevent the animals’ dependence on artificial feedings.
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Together, we can help drastically reduce the number of dogs and other animal companions who die in cold weather and even eliminate these tragedies altogether.
Animals are counting on us—as their guardians and as good Samaritans—to keep them safe. We can’t let them down.
Take Action Now
You can become an “Angel for Animals” by sponsoring a PETA doghouse. We provide lonely “outside dogs” with sturdy doghouses to shelter them in the rain and in the snow and freezing temperatures of winter. Click below to help:
Make sure that all your friends and family members know the potentially lifesaving cold-weather tips above:
Watch this video, listen to this radio clip, and check out this ad to learn more about the reasons why you should never leave a dog outside during cold weather.