Humane Society Urges Attention to Pets in Cold Weather

January 13, 2009

With predictions of weather in the single digits this week, the Mohawk & Hudson River Humane Society is urging pet owners to bring their pets inside. "When it gets this cold, especially with wind chill, most dog houses or other outdoor animal shelters are not sufficient to keep pets warm," said Brad Shear, Executive Director of the Society. "There was actually a case in Rensselaer County last year of dogs being frozen to the ground in similar weather."

New York State Law lays out very specific requirements for dogs kept outside, including a requirement that the shelter is structurally sound and insulated to protect from local climatic conditions sufficient to protect the dog from inclement weather. "Unfortunately, many dog houses do not meet the state's standards and dogs find themselves suffering in the freezing cold and wind," Shear said.

The Society recommends that pets be brought indoors with the family where everyone will be safe and warm on these cold nights. Shear continued, "We have bred dogs to live with us, which means they have gotten used to indoor environments, just like we have. Leaving them outside in the severe cold is wrong, and may be a violation of the State cruelty law."

If you see a pet outdoors with insufficient shelter, the Society recommends calling your local police or animal control department to check on the animal before the worst of the cold weather arrives.