35 Companion Animals Endured Cold Weather-Related Deaths in 2022—That We Know Of
The number of dogs and other companion animals who have reportedly died from causes related to cold weather in 2022:
35
Every year, PETA receives reports about dogs, cats, and other animals who have died after being left outdoors in cold weather. In 2022 alone, 35 companion animals died because of cold weather—and those are just the deaths that were reported. Most aren’t.
| Year | Deaths | Rescues | Incidents |
| 2024 | 29 | 511 | See the list. |
| 2023 | 13 | 644 | See the list. |
| 2022 | 35 | 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 2022:
| Date | Location | Notes | Number of Dogs and Other Animals Who Died |
| 12/30/2022 | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada | Several cats were rescued after being abandoned at a construction site in the freezing cold. One kitten died, and another required leg amputation. | 1 |
| 12/28/2022 | Everett, Massachusetts | A dog died after falling into a partially frozen river. | 1 |
| 12/26/2022 | Muskegon, Michigan | A cat died after being found frozen to the ground. | 1 |
| 12/24/2022 | Hampton, South Carolina | A K-9 died after being left outside in an unheated kennel for hours on Christmas Eve. | 1 |
| 12/23/2022 | Decatur, Illinois | Four dogs were rescued from the freezing cold. Another dog who was also rescued had to be euthanized. | 1 |
| 12/23/2022 | Lakeville, Massachusetts | A dog died after falling through the ice on a partially frozen pond. | 1 |
| 12/20/2022 | St. George, Utah | A dog and their attempted rescuer died after falling into a partially frozen reservoir. | 1 |
| 12/20/2022 | Turtle Mountain, North Dakota | A dog and her puppy were rescued after being found under a porch in freezing temperatures. Three other puppies didn’t survive. | 3 |
| 12/10/2022 | South Jordan, Utah | A dog was presumed dead after falling through the ice on a partially frozen lake. | 1 |
| 11/28/2022 | Kawartha Lakes, Ontario, Canada | Two dogs died after falling through ice on a partially frozen river. | 2 |
| 11/21/2022 | Oshkosh, Wisconsin | Seven cats froze to death after being left outside a business in freezing temperatures. | 7 |
| 11/13/2022 | Edmonton, Alberta, Canada | A dog died after falling through the ice on the North Saskatchewan River. | 1 |
| 3/25/2022 | Moyie, British Columbia, Canada | A dog died after falling into an icy lake. | 1 |
| 2/12/2022 | Ypsilanti, Michigan | A dog was found dead inside a snow-covered cage that was frozen to the ground near an apartment complex. | 1 |
| 2/7/2022 | Greene County, New York | A dog died after slipping and falling while hiking in icy conditions. | 1 |
| 2/7/2022 | Schenectady, New York | A dog died after being found emaciated and abandoned in the cold. | 1 |
| 2/3/2022 | Steamboat Springs, Colorado | A dog died after falling into an icy river. | 1 |
| 1/28/2022 | Boston, Massachusetts | A couple was charged with cruelty to animals after allegedly abandoning 15 cats outside during a blizzard. Two of the cats died, and two others were never found. | 2 |
| Week of 1/23/2022 | Mahoning County, Ohio | A dog died after being left without food inside an enclosed doghouse in freezing temperatures. | 1 |
| 1/15/2022 | Rockford, Illinois | A dog was found dead inside a crate on a roadway, covered with snow. | 1 |
| 1/15/2022 | Charleston, Illinois | A dog died after falling into an icy pond. | 1 |
| 1/12/2022 | Denver, Colorado | A dog died after going missing while being cared for by companion animal–sitting company Wag! | 1 |
| 1/10/2022 | Detroit, Michigan | One dog died and two were rescued after being left outside in the cold. | 1 |
| 1/4/2022 | Orangeburg, South Carolina | A puppy died after being left outside an animal control building in freezing temperatures. | 1 |
| 1/2022 | Reading, Pennsylvania | A woman was charged with cruelty after allegedly confining three dogs to a backyard in freezing temperatures with no shelter or drinking water. One dog was euthanized. | 1 |
The following list is a compilation of cold weather–related rescues of companion animals reported by the media as of 2022:
| Date | Location | Notes | Number of Dogs and Other Animals Who Were Rescued |
| 12/31/2022 | Sarnia, Ontario, Canada | Firefighters rescued a dog from a partially frozen pond. | 1 |
| 12/31/2022 | Detroit, Michigan | The Coast Guard rescued a dog who had fallen into the Detroit River. | 1 |
| 12/30/2022 | Eastham, Massachusetts | Firefighters rescued a dog from a partially frozen pond. | 1 |
| 12/30/2022 | Osgoode, Ontario, Canada | Firefighters rescued a dog from a partially frozen pond. | 1 |
| 12/30/2022 | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada | Several cats were rescued after being abandoned at a construction site in the freezing cold. One kitten died, and another required leg amputation. | 8 |
| 12/29/2022 | Des Moines, Iowa | A dog was rescued after being tied up outside the Des Moines International Airport in the cold with no food or water. | 1 |
| 12/29/2022 | West Windsor, New Jersey | Firefighters rescued a dog who was stuck on thin ice on a partially frozen creek. | 1 |
| 12/29/2022 | Anne Arundel County, Maryland | A good Samaritan rescued a dog from a partially frozen creek. | 1 |
| 12/29/2022 | Manitou Springs, Colorado | A police officer rescued a dog who was found roaming the streets in the cold. | 1 |
| 12/28/2022 | Powell, Tennessee | A cat was rescued after becoming stuck in a tree for around two weeks in cold weather. | 1 |
| 12/28/2022 | Lorain, Ohio | Firefighters rescued a dog from partially frozen Lake Erie. | 1 |
| 12/27/2022 | Dadeville, Alabama | A dog was rescued after surviving in the woods during severe weather for at least five months. | 1 |
| 12/27/2022 | Cedar Falls, Iowa | A police officer rescued a cat from a frozen storm drain. | 1 |
| 12/25/2022 | Neptune Township, New Jersey | An abandoned dog was rescued after being tied up outside a vacant home and forced to spend three nights in below-freezing temperatures. | 1 |
| 12/25/2022 | Quakertown, Pennsylvania | Firefighters rescued a dog from a partially frozen lake. | 1 |
| 12/25/2022 | Goshen, New York | Nine dogs were seized after being left to freeze while their owner was out of town. Three dogs had been left outside, and six were in a garage. | 9 |
| 12/24/2022 | Millbrook, Alabama | A kitten was rescued after being found frozen to a storm drain. | 1 |
| 12/24/2022 | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | Firefighters rescued a dog from a partially frozen lake. | 1 |
| 12/24/2022 | Brunswick County, North Carolina | Sheriff’s deputies rescued a dog from a freezing swimming pool. | 1 |
| 12/24/2022 | Askov, Minnesota | A dog was rescued after being left in a crate in freezing weather. | 1 |
| 12/24/2022 | Weber County, Utah | A dog was rescued after becoming lost during a hike and spending a night above a frozen waterfall. | 1 |
| 12/23/2022 | Sioux City, Iowa | A puppy was abandoned outside a humane society in temperatures of minus 20 degrees. | 1 |
| 12/23/2022 | Ecorse, Michigan | A dog was rescued after being abandoned outside during a blizzard. | 1 |
| 12/23/2022 | Boone County, West Virginia | Sheriff’s deputies rescued a dog who was chained up without shelter in freezing temperatures. | 1 |
| 12/23/2022 | Monongalia County, West Virginia | Seven dogs were rescued amid freezing temperatures. | 7 |
| 12/23/2022 | Greenfield, Indiana | A dog was rescued after being abandoned along a road in frigid temperatures. | 1 |
| 12/23/2022 | West Edmeston, New York | Fifteen dogs were seized from a property where they wouldn’t have had proper shelter ahead of extreme winter weather. | 15 |
| 12/23/2022 | Forreston, Illinois | A dog reportedly had to be rescued from his own backyard by his owner’s young son after freezing on the stairs in subzero temperatures. | 1 |
| 12/23/2022 | Mahoning County, Ohio | A dog was rescued after being tied outside in the cold. | 1 |
| 12/23/2022 | Ashland, Wisconsin | A kitten was rescued after being found outside during a blizzard. Wind chills were minus 20 degrees. | 1 |
| 12/23/2022 | Decatur, Illinois | Four dogs were rescued from the freezing cold. Another dog who was also rescued had to be euthanized. | 4 |
| 12/23/2022 | Blacksville, West Virginia | Seven dogs without food or water were rescued from a freezing and snow-filled camper. | 7 |
| 12/22/2022 | Cass County, Missouri | Twenty-nine dogs were seized from a property where they were left outside in extreme winter weather. | 29 |
| 12/22/2022 | Stanton, Michigan | A cat’s leg had to be amputated after the animal sustained injuries while seeking shelter from the cold inside a car engine. | 1 |
| 12/22/2022 | Richmond, Virginia | A pregnant dog was rescued from freezing weather conditions. | 1 |
| 12/21/2022 | Ottawa, Ontario, Canada | Firefighters rescued a dog from a partially frozen pond. | 1 |
| 12/21/2022 | Providence, Rhode Island | Firefighters rescued a dog from a partially frozen pond. | 1 |
| 12/20/2022 | Douglas County, Nevadad | Firefighters rescued a dog from a partially frozen pond. | 1 |
| 12/20/2022 | Turtle Mountain, North Dakota | A dog and her puppy were rescued after being found under a porch in freezing temperatures. Three other puppies didn’t survive. | 2 |
| 12/18/2022 | Angeles National Forest, California | A hiker and his dog were rescued from icy conditions in the Angeles National Forest. | 1 |
| 12/11/2022 | Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada | A good Samaritan rescued a dog who had fallen through the ice on a partially frozen lake. | 1 |
| 12/7/2022 | Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada | A good Samaritan rescued a cat who was frozen to the ground. | 1 |
| 12/6/2022 | Edgewater, New Jersey | Firefighters rescued a dog who was found underneath a pier after swimming across the cold Hudson River. | 1 |
| 12/5/2022 | Peshtigo, Wisconsin | Firefighters rescued a dog who had fallen into a partially frozen river. | 1 |
| 12/1/2022 | Whitesboro, New York | A good Samaritan found a dog who had just recently given birth to a litter of puppies and been abandoned on the side of the road in the cold. | 1 |
| 12/2022 | Scottsdale, Arizona | A good Samaritan rescued a dog and his guardian from a cold canal. | 1 |
| 12/2022 | Burns, Wyoming | A good Samaritan and the Cheyenne Animal Shelter rescued a kitten who was frozen to the bottom of a kiddie pool. | 1 |
| 11/24/2022 | Louisville, Ohio | A good Samaritan rescued a dog who had fallen through the ice on a partially frozen lake. | 1 |
| 11/24/2022 | Ottawa, Ontario, Canada | Firefighters rescued a dog who had fallen into a freezing pond. | 1 |
| 11/23/2022 | Orchard Park, New York | Police officers rescued a dog who had fallen into a partially frozen lake. | 1 |
| 11/23/2022 | Brockville, Ontario, Canada | A professional diver and firefighters rescued a dog who had fallen into a cold river. | 1 |
| 11/21/2022 | Federal Way, Washington | Firefighters rescued a dog who had fallen into a partially frozen lake. | 1 |
| 11/21/2022 | Six Nations, Ontario, Canada | Firefighters rescued a dog who was stranded on an ice shelf. | 1 |
| 11/19/2022 | Forestport, New York | Firefighters rescued a dog who had fallen into a partially frozen lake. | 1 |
| 11/18/2022 | Evans, Colorado | Firefighters rescued a dog who had fallen through the ice of a partially frozen pond. | 1 |
| 11/17/2022 | Wakefield Township, Minnesota | Firefighters rescued a dog who had fallen into a partially frozen lake. | 1 |
| 11/14/2022 | Cochrane, Alberta, Canada | Firefighters rescued a dog from an icy pond. | 1 |
| 11/2022 | Port Alberni, British Columbia, Canada | A 3-month-old puppy was rescued after being abandoned outside an animal shelter in the cold. | 1 |
| 4/14/2022 | Guelph, Ontario, Canada | A hypothermic cat was rescued after being found abandoned inside a cat carrier in a water-filled ditch. | 1 |
| 3/25/2022 | Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada | Good Samaritans rescued a dog from an icy river. | 1 |
| 3/25/2022 | Beaver Dam, Wisconsin | Firefighters rescued a dog from an icy lake. | 1 |
| 3/24/2022 | Salmon Arm, British Columbia, Canada | Good Samaritans rescued a dog and their guardian from an icy pond. | 1 |
| 3/23/2022 | Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada | Firefighters rescued a dog from an icy lake. | 1 |
| 3/22/2022 | Ottawa, Ontario, Canada | Firefighters rescued a dog from an icy waterfall. | 1 |
| 3/21/2022 | Manotick, Ontario, Canada | Firefighters rescued a dog and their guardians from an icy river. | 1 |
| Week of 3/20/2022 | Peterborough County, Ontario, Canada | First responders rescued a dog from an icy lake. | 1 |
| 3/18/2022 | Mayville, Michigan | Firefighters rescued a dog from an icy pond. | 1 |
| 3/17/2022 | Air Ronge, Saskatchewan, Canada | A firefighter rescued a dog from an icy river. | 1 |
| 3/17/2022 | London, Ontario, Canada | Firefighters rescued a dog from a partially frozen body of water. | 1 |
| 3/16/2022 | Pickering, Ontario, Canada | A cat was rescued after being dumped along the side of a road in the snow. | 1 |
| 3/16/2022 | Bethlehem, Connecticut | Firefighters rescued a dog from a partially frozen body of water. | 1 |
| 3/14/2022 | Tobyhanna Township, Pennsylvania | Firefighters rescued two dogs from a partially frozen body of water. | 2 |
| 3/13/2022 | Round Lake Beach, Illinois | First responders rescued a dog from an icy retention pond. | 1 |
| 3/12/2022 | Idaho Falls, Idaho | A dog was rescued from an icy river by his guardian. | 1 |
| 3/12/2022 | South Haven Charter Township, Michigan | First responders rescued a dog from an icy pond. | 1 |
| 3/10/2022 | Weston, Massachusetts | Firefighters rescued a dog from a partially frozen body of water. | 1 |
| 3/6/2022 | Willoughby Hills, Ohio | An emaciated dog was rescued by a police officer after being found nearly frozen to the ground. | 1 |
| 3/5/2022 | Duxbury, Massachusetts | Firefighters rescued a dog from a partially frozen body of water. | 1 |
| 3/1/2022 | Bethel, Connecticut | Firefighters rescued a dog from a frozen pond. | 1 |
| 3/1/2022 | Douglas County, Colorado | Firefighters rescued a dog from a frozen pond. | 1 |
| 3/1/2022 | Boston, Massachusetts | Firefighters rescued a dog from Boston Harbor. | 1 |
| 2/28/2022 | Wyandotte, Michigan | Firefighters rescued a dog from an icy river. | 1 |
| 2/28/2022 | Kingston, Massachusetts | Firefighters rescued a dog from an icy pond. | 1 |
| 2/27/2022 | Peoria, Illinois | Firefighters rescued two dogs from an icy river. | 2 |
| 2/26/2022 | Bay City, Michigan | Firefighters rescued a dog from a frozen bay. | 1 |
| 2/26/2022 | Overland Park, Kansas | Firefighters rescued a dog from an icy lake. | 1 |
| 2/25/2022 | Douglas County, Missouri | Firefighters rescued a cat who had been stuck in a tree for several days during a snowstorm. | 1 |
| 2/24/2022 | Tulsa, Oklahoma | A man was arrested on cruelty-to-animals charges after police found his dog tied up outside in extreme cold. | 1 |
| 2/21/2022 | Abington, Massachusetts | Firefighters rescued a dog from an icy body of water. | 1 |
| 2/21/2022 | Montrose, Iowa | Firefighters and a good Samaritan rescued a dog from an icy river. | 1 |
| 2/20/2022 | Falmouth, Maine | Firefighters rescued a dog from an ice-filled drainage pipe. | 1 |
| 2/19/2022 | Vernal, Utah | Firefighters rescued a dog who had jumped into an icy reservoir to help their guardian, who had fallen in. | 1 |
| 2/18/2022 | Cleveland, Ohio | A man was charged with cruelty after allegedly leaving a dog tied up outside in the cold and rain. | 1 |
| 2/18/2022 | Harrison County, Ohio | Firefighters rescued a dog who was stranded outside in freezing temperatures and floodwater. | 1 |
| 2/14/2022 | Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota | Firefighters rescued a dog and his or her guardian from an icy river. | 1 |
| 2/12/2022 | Streator, Illinois | Firefighters rescued a dog from a snowy sinkhole. | 1 |
| 2/11/2022 | Newburgh, New York | Firefighters rescued a dog from an icy river. | 1 |
| 2/9/2022 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Firefighters rescued two dogs from an icy pond. | 2 |
| 2/7/2022 | Fort Collins, Colorado | Firefighters rescued a dog from an icy pond. | 1 |
| 2/6/2022 | Richmond, Virginia | An emaciated dog was rescued after being abandoned outside an animal shelter in the cold. | 1 |
| 2/6/2022 | Liberty Township, Ohio | A sheriff’s deputy rescued a dog and his or her guardian from an icy pond. | 1 |
| 2/6/2022 | Kaysville, Utah | Firefighters rescued a dog from an icy pond. | 1 |
| 2/5/2022 | East Patchogue, New York | A man was charged with “restraining pets in temperatures less than 32 degrees” after allegedly leaving his dog outside in subfreezing temperatures. | 1 |
| 2/5/2022 | Cadott, Wisconsin | Firefighters rescued a dog from an icy body of water. | 1 |
| 2/4/2022 | Elkville, Illinois | A dog was rescued from an icy pond. | 1 |
| 2/4/2022 | East Hampton, Connecticut | Firefighters rescued a dog from an icy lake. | 1 |
| 2/3/2022 | Columbia, Missouri | Firefighters rescued a dog from an icy lake. | 1 |
| 2/2/2022 | Fairfield, Connecticut | Firefighters rescued two dogs and their guardian from an icy pond. | 2 |
| 2/2/2022 | West Brookfield, Massachusetts | Firefighters rescued a dog from an icy river. | 1 |
| 2/1/2022 | Chicago, Illinois | First responders rescued a dog from partially frozen Lake Michigan. | 1 |
| 2/1/2022 | Mesa County, Colorado | A dog and his or her guardian were rescued after becoming lost while backcountry skiing. | 1 |
| 1/31/2022 | Newark, Ohio | A missing dog was rescued after spending 17 days out in the cold. | 1 |
| 1/31/2022 | Barkhamsted, Connecticut | Firefighters rescued a dog from an icy river. | 1 |
| 1/30/2022 | Galax, Virginia | Police officers rescued a kitten who was stuck to a frozen drainpipe. | 1 |
| 1/29/2022 | Lindenhurst, New York | A man is facing cruelty-to-animals charges after allegedly leaving his dog in an unheated car in subfreezing temperatures. | 1 |
| 1/29/2022 | Lanesborough, Massachusetts | Six cats were abandoned on a roadside during a winter storm, and five were rescued. | 5 |
| 1/29/2022 | Detroit, Michigan | A dog was rescued after being abandoned and chained to a light pole in the cold. | 1 |
| 1/29/2022 | Denver, Colorado | Firefighters rescued a dog from an icy pond. | 1 |
| 1/29/2022 | Halifax County, North Carolina | PETA fieldworkers rescued two dogs who were locked inside a wire crate in freezing temperatures. | 2 |
| 1/28/2022 | Boston, Massachusetts | A couple was charged with cruelty to animals after allegedly abandoning 15 cats outside during a blizzard. Two of the cats died, and two others were never found. | 11 |
| 1/28/2022 | Richmond, Massachusetts | Ten cats were abandoned on a roadside during a winter storm, and eight were rescued. | 8 |
| 1/28/2022 | Brighton, Colorado | Firefighters rescued two dogs from an icy body of water. | 2 |
| 1/27/2022 | Topeka, Kansas | A good Samaritan rescued a dog and his or her guardian from an icy lake. | 1 |
| 1/27/2022 | Spout Spring, Virginia | Sixteen cats and four dogs were rescued from the cold. | 20 |
| 1/27/2022 | Centennial, Colorado | A dog and his or her guardian were rescued from an icy pond. | 1 |
| 1/26/2022 | Liberty Township, Ohio | A sheriff’s deputy rescued a puppy from an icy pond. | 1 |
| 1/25/2022 | Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada | A dog was reunited with her guardians after getting loose and spending two weeks out in the cold. | 1 |
| 1/25/2022 | [No city listed], Alabama | Nine dogs who’d been confined to wire crates were rescued from the cold. | 9 |
| 1/25/2022 | Whitewater Township, Ohio | Firefighters rescued two dogs from an icy pond. | 2 |
| 1/24/2022 | Darien, Connecticut | A cat was rescued after being abandoned in freezing temperatures at a highway rest stop. | 1 |
| 1/24/2022 | Roanoke, Virginia | An emaciated dog was rescued after being left outside in freezing temperatures. | 1 |
| 1/23/2022 | Sauk County, Wisconsin | A cat and her four kittens were abandoned in the snow. Rescuers were unable to locate the mother cat and one of the kittens. | 3 |
| Week of 1/23/2022 | Polk City, Florida | A dog was rescued after being tied to a fence overnight in freezing temperatures. | 1 |
| 1/22/2022 | Suffolk County, New York | A woman was charged with cruelty to animals after allegedly leaving her 12-year-old dog outside in below-freezing temperatures overnight. | 1 |
| 1/22/2022 | Casper, Wyoming | Firefighters rescued a dog from an icy river. | 1 |
| 1/22/2022 | Jackson, Tennessee | Firefighters rescued a dog from an icy lake. | 1 |
| 1/21/2022 | Horry County, South Carolina | A dog was rescued after being abandoned in freezing rain. | 1 |
| 1/21/2022 | Springfield, Illinois | Firefighters rescued a dog and his or her guardian from an icy lake. | 1 |
| 1/21/2022 | Austin, Texas | A police officer rescued a dog who was abandoned on a patio in 27-degree weather. | 1 |
| 1/20/2022 | Murray River, Prince Edward Island, Canada | Firefighters rescued two dogs from a partially frozen body of water. | 2 |
| 1/19/2022 | Chicago, Illinois | A dog was rescued after showing up on someone’s porch in freezing temperatures. | 1 |
| 1/18/2022 | Corbin, Kentucky | First responders rescued a dog from an icy pond. | 1 |
| 1/18/2022 | Chatham, Massachusetts | Firefighters rescued a dog from freezing water. | 1 |
| 1/18/2022 | Toledo, Ohio | A stray puppy was rescued after being found emaciated and abandoned in the cold. | 1 |
| 1/17/2022 | Fort Benton, Montana | A police chief rescued a dog from an icy river. | 1 |
| 1/17/2022 | Baltimore, Maryland | An injured puppy was rescued after being found in the bitter cold. | 1 |
| 1/17/2022 | Baton Rouge, Louisiana | Firefighters rescued a dog and his or her guardian who were lost in the woods in frigid temperatures. | 1 |
| 1/16/2022 | Fletcher, Oklahoma | Nine puppies were rescued after being abandoned in the cold. | 9 |
| 1/16/2022 | Pagosa Springs, Colorado | A missing dog was rescued after being found trapped atop a frozen waterfall. | 1 |
| 1/15/2022 | Charleston, Illinois | Two dogs were rescued from an icy pond. | 2 |
| 1/14/2022 | Fort Mill, South Carolina | Two abandoned dogs were rescued from the cold. | 2 |
| 1/13/2022 | Hopewell Township, New Jersey | First responders rescued a dog and his or her guardian from an icy lake. | 1 |
| 1/13/2022 | Seelyville, Indiana | Firefighters rescued two dogs and a deer from an icy pond. | 2 |
| 1/13/2022 | Plainville, New York | Firefighters rescued a dog from an icy river. | 1 |
| 1/13/2022 | Lakewood, Ohio | Firefighters rescued a dog from an icy river. | 1 |
| 1/12/2022 | Oshkosh, Wisconsin | Firefighters rescued two dogs from a partially frozen body of water. | 2 |
| 1/12/2022 | Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada | Firefighters rescued a dog from an icy lake. | 1 |
| 1/11/2022 | Plattsburgh, New York | Firefighters rescued two dogs from an icy lake. | 2 |
| 1/10/2022 | Franklin County, Washington | Firefighters rescued a dog from an icy pond. | 1 |
| 1/10/2022 | Warren County, New York | Firefighters rescued a dog and his guardian from an icy lake. | 1 |
| 1/10/2022 | Detroit, Michigan | One dog died and two were rescued after being left outside in the cold. | 2 |
| 1/9/2022 | New York, New York | A dog was rescued after likely being abandoned and forced to live outside in the cold for three months. | 1 |
| Week of 1/9/2022 | Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada | A cat was rescued after being found underneath a front porch in the cold. | 1 |
| 1/8/2022 | St. Paul, Minnesota | A dog was reunited with his guardian after the van he was inside was stolen and then abandoned, forcing him to spend three days inside the cold vehicle. | 1 |
| 1/7/2022 | Cheyenne, Wyoming | Animal control officers rescued a cat who was stuck in a swamp cooler in frigid temperatures. | 1 |
| 1/7/2022 | Lake City, Michigan | Forty-one dogs were removed from a breeder after being left outside in below-freezing temperatures. | 41 |
| 1/7/2022 | Letts, Indiana | Firefighters rescued a dog from an icy pond. | 1 |
| 1/7/2022 | Pleasantville, New York | Firefighters rescued a dog from an icy pond. | 1 |
| 1/5/2022 | Lewiston, New York | A police officer rescued a dog from an icy lake. | 1 |
| 1/3/2022 | Boulder, Colorado | Firefighters rescued a dog and his or her guardian from an icy pond. | 1 |
| Week of 1/2/2022 | Drumheller, Alberta, Canada | A kitten was rescued after being found frozen to a water trough on a farm. | 1 |
| 1/1/2022 | Lincoln, Massachusetts | An emaciated serval, a wild cat native to Africa, was rescued after being found trying to survive in cold temperatures. | 1 |
| 1/1/2022 | Caledonia, North Dakota | A dog was rescued after being abandoned on the side of a road in below-zero temperatures. | 1 |
| 1/1/2022 | Fargo, North Dakota | A dog was rescued after being abandoned in below-zero temperatures. | 1 |
| 1/1/2022 | Bismarck, North Dakota | Four puppies were rescued from cold weather after they were discovered living under an abandoned trailer. | 4 |
| 1/2022 | Reading, Pennsylvania | A woman was charged with cruelty after allegedly confining three dogs to a backyard in freezing temperatures with no shelter or drinking water. One dog was euthanized. | 2 |
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.
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.
