The number of dogs and other companion animals who have reportedly died from causes related to cold weather in 2022:

34

Every year, PETA receives reports about dogs, cats, and other animals who have died after being left outdoors in cold weather. In 2022 alone, 34 companion animals died because of cold weather—and those are just the deaths that were reported. Most aren’t.

Year	Deaths	Rescues	Incidents
2023	1	110	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 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
12/23/2022	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.