Last updated on May 31, 2023:
The number of dogs and other companion animals who have reportedly died from causes related to cold weather since 2022:
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 |
2023 | 1 | 108 | See the list. |
2022 | 34 | 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 2023:
Date | Location | Notes | Number of Dogs and Other Animals Who Died |
1/8/2023 | Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada | Firefighters rescued a dog from a partially frozen pond. Another dog fell through the ice and wasn’t recovered. | 1 |
The following list is a compilation of cold weather–related rescues of companion animals reported by the media as of 2023:
Date | Location | Notes | Number of Dogs and Other Animals Who Were Rescued |
5/3/2023 | Sylvan Lake, Alberta, Canada | Firefighters rescued a dog stuck on the ice of a lake. | 1 |
5/1/2023 | Lower Frankford Township, Pennsylvania | A malnourished dog was brought to an animal shelter after being found “ice cold” and anemic outside. | 1 |
4/25/2023 | Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Firefighters rescued a dog and their guardian from an icy lake. | 1 |
4/25/2023 | Leavenworth, Washington | Firefighters rescued a dog from a “frigid” creek. | 1 |
4/16/2023 | Okotoks, Alberta, Canada | A guardian saved their dog from an unused septic tank full of cold water. | 1 |
4/13/2023 |
Chisago County, Minnesota | Neighbors and sheriff’s deputies helped a mother and daughter rescue a dog who had fallen into an icy lake. | 1 |
4/13/2023 |
Coos County, Oregon | Sheriff’s deputies rescued two dogs and their guardian after their vehicle got stuck in the snow overnight. | 2 |
4/11/2023 |
Big Lake, Minnesota | Firefighters rescued a dog from a partially frozen lake. | 1 |
4/8/2023 |
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada | Firefighters rescued a dog from a partially frozen body of water. | 1 |
4/2/2023 | Schoharie County, New York | A dog was rescued from a partially frozen pond. | 1 |
3/30/2023 | Powell River, British Columbia, Canada | A dog and two men were rescued from frigid water after their boat capsized. | 1 |
3/29/2023 | Rumson, New Jersey | A teenager rescued a dog from a cold river. | 1 |
3/27/2023 | Westerlo, New York | Firefighters rescued a dog from a partially frozen pond. | 1 |
3/26/2023 | Alna, Maine | Firefighters rescued a dog from a partially frozen pond. | 1 |
3/26/2023 | Lee Township, Michigan | Firefighters rescued a dog from a partially frozen body of water. | 1 |
3/22/2023 | Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada | Four puppies were rescued after being abandoned in a rural area in freezing temperatures. | 4 |
3/20/2023 | Calumet, Wisconsin | Firefighters rescued a dog and their guardian from a partially frozen pond. | 1 |
3/15/2023 | Walterboro, South Carolina | Firefighters rescued a dog from a cold pond. | 1 |
3/15/2023 | San Bernardino, California | Firefighters rescued two dogs who were stranded on a snow-covered rooftop and reunited them with their guardian. | 2 |
3/13/2023 | Throop, New York | Firefighters rescued a dog who had gone missing in cold temperatures. | 1 |
3/12/2023 | Kingston, Ontario, Canada | Firefighters rescued a dog and their guardian from a partially frozen body of water. | 1 |
3/12/2023 | Missoula, Montana | Firefighters and ice climbers rescued a dog who was stuck on a cliff surrounded by ice. | 1 |
3/10/2023 | Detroit, Michigan | A dog was rescued after being abandoned in the snow on the side of a freeway. | 1 |
3/8/2023 | Hardwick, Massachusetts | Firefighters rescued a dog from a partially frozen pond. | 1 |
3/7/2023 | Muskegon Heights, Michigan | Firefighters rescued a dog who had fallen from 10 feet onto a frozen body of water. | 1 |
3/6/2023 | Alpena, Michigan | Firefighters rescued a dog and their guardian from a partially frozen river. | 1 |
3/5/2023 | Raymond, Wisconsin | First responders rescued two dogs and their guardian from a partially frozen pond. | 2 |
3/3/2023 | Cairo, New York | A good Samaritan and first responders rescued a dog from a partially frozen pond. | 1 |
3/2/2023 | Kittery, Maine | Firefighters rescued two dogs from a partially frozen pond. | 2 |
2/28/2023 | Thornton, Colorado | Firefighters rescued two dogs from a partially frozen lake. | 2 |
2/27/2023 | Douglas, Massachusetts | Firefighters rescued two dogs from a partially frozen pond. | 2 |
2/25/2023 | Sagadahoc County, Maine | A sheriff’s deputy rescued a nearly frozen dog from a ditch. | 1 |
2/24/2023 | Portland, Oregon | A police officer rescued a dog who was trapped underneath a dock in a cold river. | 1 |
2/23/2023 | Cranbrook, British Columbia, Canada | A cat was rescued after being found nearly frozen in the snow on the side of a road. | 1 |
2/17/2023 | Denver, Colorado | A man rescued a dog who had fallen through the ice while chasing geese at Sloan’s Lake. | 1 |
2/17/2023 | Kansas City, Missouri | A dog was rescued after being found unconscious and covered with semi-frozen feces inside a cold wire crate. | 1 |
2/17/2023 | Libertyville, Illinois | Firefighters rescued a dog from a partially frozen pond. | 1 |
2/16/2023 | Lakewood, New York | Firefighters rescued a dog from a partially frozen lake. | 1 |
2/15/2023 | Moffat County, Colorado | Stranded motorists and a dog were rescued during a blizzard. | 1 |
2/14/2023 | Lawrence, Massachusetts | A man was facing a charge of cruelty to animals after allegedly beating a kitten then abandoning her in the cold outside a gas station. | 1 |
2/14/2023 | Portage, Michigan | A dog was rescued by his guardian after falling through a partially frozen lake. | 1 |
2/11/2023 | Adams County, Colorado | Firefighters rescued a dog from a partially frozen reservoir. | 1 |
2/9/2023 | Macomb County, Michigan | A cat was rescued after being found frozen to the ground at a construction site. | 1 |
2/9/2023 | Danvers, Massachusetts | Firefighters rescued a dog from a partially frozen reservoir. | 1 |
2/7/2023 | Scituate, Rhode Island | A dog was rescued after being abandoned inside a crate in a cemetery in below-freezing temperatures. | 1 |
2/7/2023 | Waterford, Ontario, Canada | A dehydrated and emaciated dog was found abandoned in frigid temperatures. | 1 |
2/6/2023 | Gardiner, New York | Firefighters rescued a dog from a partially frozen river. | 1 |
2/6/2023 | Kenyon, Minnesota | A good Samaritan rescued a cat who was frozen to the ground. | 1 |
2/6/2023 | LaGrange, New York | Firefighters rescued a dog from a partially frozen body of water. | 1 |
2/6/2023 | Lenexa, Kansas | A dog was rescued after falling through a partially frozen lake. | 1 |
2/5/2023 | Williamsport, Pennsylvania | A dog was abandoned in a crate at the edge of a parking lot in below-freezing temperatures. | 1 |
2/4/2023 | Louisdale, Nova Scotia, Canada | A man was charged with cruelty to animals after he allegedly left his dog tied up outside in the snow. | 1 |
2/4/2023 | Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada | An emaciated, pregnant dog was rescued after being found chained to a basement wall in freezing temperatures. | 1 |
2/4/2023 | Dickinson County, Iowa | Good Samaritans rescued a dog and their guardian after their car fell through the ice on a partially frozen lake. | 1 |
2/4/2023 | Wareham, Massachusetts | Firefighters rescued a dog from a partially frozen pond. | 1 |
2/3/2023 | Mohawk, New York | A dog was rescued after being abandoned outside an animal shelter in subzero temperatures. | 1 |
2/2/2023 | Eau Claire, Wisconsin | A dog was tied to the door of an animal shelter in freezing temperatures. | 1 |
2/2/2023 | Arvada, Colorado | Firefighters rescued a dog and their guardian from a partially frozen lake. | 1 |
2/2/2023 | Yavapai County, Arizona | A dog and their guardians were rescued after spending two nights in their truck, which had gotten stuck in ice and snow. | 1 |
2/1/2023 | Temple, Texas | A 10-year-old boy rescued a dog who was tied to a broken tree limb after a winter storm. | 1 |
2/1/2023 | East Haven, Connecticut | A homeless man and his dog were rescued from the cold. | 1 |
1/31/2023 | Dallas, Texas | Animal control officers rescued a dog who was outside in freezing temperatures without shelter or drinkable water. | 1 |
1/27/2023 | Berne, New York | First responders rescued a dog from a partially frozen lake. | 1 |
1/27/2023 | Muskegon, Michigan | A stray dog and her puppy were rescued from the cold. | 2 |
1/24/2023 | Belmont, New Hampshire | Firefighters rescued a dog from a partially frozen lake. | 1 |
1/19/2023 | Point Pleasant, New Jersey | A good Samaritan and first responders rescued a dog from a frigid lagoon. | 1 |
1/17/2023 | Ann Arbor, Michigan | Police and firefighters rescued a dog from a partially frozen river. | 1 |
1/15/2023 | Omaha, Nebraska | A dog and their guardian were rescued from a cold, muddy lake. | 1 |
11/10/2023 | Clearwater, British Columbia, Canada | Fifteen neglected and emaciated dogs were seized from a property after being left in subzero temperatures without food or water. | 15 |
1/10/2023 | Pueblo, Colorado | Firefighters rescued a dog from a partially frozen lake. | 1 |
1/8/2023 | Ottawa, Ontario, Canada | A dog and her guardian were rescued after falling into a partially frozen river. | 1 |
1/8/2023 | Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada | Firefighters rescued a dog from a partially frozen pond. Another dog fell through the ice and wasn’t recovered. | 1 |
1/5/2023 | Danville, Vermont | Firefighters rescued a dog, their guardian, and an attempted rescuer from a partially frozen pond. | 1 |
1/5/2023 | Canterbury, New Hampshire | Firefighters rescued a dog from a partially frozen pond. | 1 |
1/3/2023 | Lebanon, Maine | A good Samaritan rescued a dog from a partially frozen river. | 1 |
1/3/2023 | Wichita, Kansas | Firefighters rescued a dog from a partially frozen river. | 1 |
1/2/2023 | Pike Creek, Delaware | A dog and their guardian were rescued from a partially frozen pond. | 1 |
1/2/2023 | Cabery, Illinois | Firefighters rescued a dog from a partially frozen pond. | 1 |
1/1/2023 | Fargo, North Dakota | A kitten was rescued after being found frozen to the ground. | 1 |
1/1/2023 | West Fargo, North Dakota | A dog was rescued after falling into a partially frozen river. | 1 |
1/1/2023 | Lac-Beauport, Québec, Canada | A dog was rescued from a partially frozen lake. | 1 |
1/1/2023 | Burlington, Wyoming | An injured kitten suffering from frostbite was rescued after being found in the cold. | 1 |
1/1/2023 | North Platte, Nebraska | Divers rescued a dog from a partially frozen 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.
©iStock.com/Merrimon
When the weather improves, be sure to remove any food offerings in order to prevent the animals’ dependence on artificial feedings.
*****
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.