Freezing Weather Prompts Bulls Star’s Message Outside Arena: ‘Never Leave Dogs Out in The Cold’
For Immediate Release:
February 3, 2026
Contact:
Moira Colley 202-483-7382
As subfreezing temperatures persist in the Windy City, PETA is urging people to keep dogs safe and warm indoors, courtesy of a blitz of appeals near the United Center starring Chicago Bulls center Jalen Smith and his adopted canine companion, Phoenix.
“I wouldn’t keep my dog outside because I wouldn’t want to be left outside … nobody wants to be outside during harsh weather conditions,” says Smith.
In just the last few weeks, PETA fieldworkers have found numerous dead and dying dogs still chained or confined to their outdoor pens. Dogs and cats are at serious risk of frostbite and hypothermia, and dogs like pitbulls have NO haircoat to help keep them warm, so while they may look tough, they suffer greatly. Dogs who are kept tethered can become tangled and die when they’re unable to reach food, water that’s not frozen over, or properly insulated shelter. A glimpse of just some of the dogs PETA’s fieldworkers have found shivering and suffering outdoors—with little protection from the bitter cold—can be seen here. (Broadcast-quality footage is available upon request.)
This winter alone, dozens of dogs and cats have reportedly died from cold-related causes across the country—and those are just the cases that are reported. Most aren’t.In addition to keeping animal companions indoors, PETA recommends keeping walks with dogs short in cold weather and having them wear a coat, secure harness, and booties to protect their sensitive paw pads from the frozen ground. PETA urges Good Samaritans to alert local law enforcement immediately to any dog kept chained or penned outside 24/7 or without adequate shelter from the elements.
PETA’s messages are located throughout the city, including in the West Loop directly across from the United Center at Madison Street and Damen Avenue.
PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way”—points out that Every Animal Is Someone and offers free Empathy Kits for people who need a lesson in kindness. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow PETA on X, Facebook, or Instagram.
