‘Animals Will Die’: Tulsa Native Chris Harris Jr. and PETA Share Urgent Survival Tips During Severe Winter Weather

For Immediate Release:
January 30, 2026

Contact:
Moira Colley 202-483-7382

With nearly below-zero wind chills expected in Tulsa this weekend, former NFL cornerback and Bixby Spartan Chris Harris Jr. has teamed up with PETA to bring a message to his hometown via a TV spot debuting on local channels: unchain dogs and bring them inside and out of the cold.

In the spot, Harris spends time in the bitter cold to get a glimpse of what dogs experience when they’re left outside in freezing temperatures. When he finally returns to his warm home—something dogs left outside never get the chance to do—he greets his dogs, saying, “I would never do this to you.”

PETA points out that dogs like pitbulls—the breed most commonly found chained outside—have short coats, which offer little protection from the cold, so while they may look tough, they suffer greatly. Dogs kept penned or chained outdoors often go without adequate water, protective shelter, or veterinary care, and chains can easily become tangled or frozen to the ground—or even frozen to the dog. This winter alone, dozens of dogs and cats have died from cold-weather-related causes—and those are just the cases that are reported. Most aren’t.

A glimpse of just some of the dogs PETA’s fieldworkers have found shivering and suffering outdoors—with little protection from the bitter cold—can be seen here. (Broadcast-quality footage is available upon request.)

The following steps can help save animals’ lives during cold weather.

·        Bring them indoors: Winter conditions can be deadly for dogs who are kept chained and penned outside and cats left outdoors, who often go without adequate food, water, shelter, or veterinary care.

·        Gear up: Coats will keep dogs comfortable for short periods in cold weather (just be sure to remove wet jackets the moment dogs return home), secure harnesses can help prevent them from getting loose on walks, and booties will protect their sensitive paw pads from the frozen ground. Keep walks short in cold weather, especially for short-haired dogs.

·        Don’t forget wildlife: During extreme winter weather, you can provide birds, squirrels, and other wild animals with access to an emergency water supply by filling a heavy non-metal water bowl (tongues can freeze to metal) and breaking the surface ice at least twice a day.

Good Samaritans who see dogs kept chained or penned outside 24/7 or without adequate shelter from the elements should note the animals’ exact location and alert local law enforcement authorities immediately. Anyone who leaves animals outside to suffer in severe weather may be prosecuted.

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way”—points out that Every Animal Is Someone and offers free Empathy Kits for people who need a lesson in kindness. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow PETA on X, Facebook, or Instagram.