A Heartwarming Gift for Freezing ‘Backyard Dogs’
Turning their backs on holiday leftovers and Black Friday deals, a group of PETA volunteers spent their day-after-Thanksgiving looking out for cold, lonely, and often forgotten “backyard dogs.” With below-freezing weather in Virginia and North Carolina last night, our volunteers were sorely needed. They delivered straw bedding, supplied fresh water for those with only ice in their frozen bowls, gave out treats, and delivered kindness with every word and touch.
Here are a handful of animals whose lives were made a little better today by our Community Animal Project and volunteers. All the services that they provided and the vans that they rode in were made possible by generous donors like you.
Chained dogs must endure extreme weather conditions and usually go without any veterinary attention or companionship. Cold winters bring extra hardship to dogs who are left outdoors, as they suffer from thirst and dehydration when water sources freeze, and ache from chilled bones, frostbite, and exposure. Frustrated dogs on chains are also more prone to aggression and biting and are also vulnerable to acts of cruelty.
What You Can Do
Please check to see whether your city has an ordinance against chaining right here on the PETA website. If you see a chained dog, contact your local authorities to find out whether chaining is illegal. Monitor and try to improve the situation if it’s not.
