Companion Animals Are Dying in Cold Weather—These Are the Reported Cases

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.

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 Ingrid E. Newkirk

“Almost all of us grew up eating meat, wearing leather, and going to circuses and zoos. We never considered the impact of these actions on the animals involved. For whatever reason, you are now asking the question: Why should animals have rights?” READ MORE

— Ingrid E. Newkirk, PETA President and co-author of Animalkind