Urgent! PETA Warns Dogs Will Die in Bitter Weather

Group Offers Free Straw for Bedding, Warns Leaving Animals Outside in Freezing Temperatures Is a Deadly Criminal Act

For Immediate Release:
January 19, 2016

Contact:
Lauren Rutkowski 202-483-7382

Every year, PETA receives thousands of complaints about people who leave dogs outside in the cold. While PETA strongly encourages people to keep their dogs and other animal companions indoors—especially at this time of year—in order to protect their health and ensure their well-being and safety, these calls have prompted PETA to give away free straw for use as doghouse bedding for dogs who are kept outside. This free straw will be available all winter long in the parking lot of PETA’s Sam Simon Center, located at 501 Front St. in Norfolk, Virginia. Anyone who has questions or needs help can call PETA’s toll-free number, 1-800-566-9768.

Cold weather spells extra hardship for “backyard dogs,” who often go without adequate food, water, shelter, or veterinary care. Although they are equipped with fur coats, dogs and other animals can still suffer from deadly frostbite and exposure, and they can become dehydrated when water sources freeze. That’s why PETA is working with law-enforcement officials across the country to press charges against people who illegally leave their animals outside to die or to shiver and ache in the cold all day and night.

• Keep animals indoors. This is absolutely critical when it comes to puppies and kittens, elderly animals, small animals, and dogs with short hair, including pointers, beagles, pit bulls, Rottweilers, and Doberman pinschers. Short-haired animals will also benefit from a warm sweater or a coat on walks. Don’t allow your cat or dog to roam outdoors. During winter, cats sometimes climb under the hoods of cars to be near warm engines and are badly injured or killed when the car is started.
• Wipe off your dogs’ or cats’ legs, feet, and stomachs after they come in from the snow. Salt and other chemicals can make your animals sick if they ingest them. You should also increase animals’ food rations during the winter because they burn more calories in an effort to stay warm.
• Keep an eye out for stray animals. Take unidentified animals indoors until you can find their guardians or take them to an animal shelter. If strays are skittish or otherwise unapproachable, provide food and water and call your local humane society for assistance in trapping them and getting them indoors.
• If you see animals left outside without shelter from the elements, please notify authorities. For information on what constitutes adequate shelter, click here.
• During extreme winter weather, birds and other animals may have trouble finding food and water. Offer rations to wildlife who are caught in storms or white-outs by spreading birdseed on the ground. Provide access to liquid water by filling a heavy water bowl and breaking the surface ice twice a day. Remember to remove the food once the weather improves to encourage the animals to move on to warmer areas.

PETA’s cold-weather public service announcement is available to link to or download here.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.