If you are a pet owner, you are probably constantly thinking about the needs of your chosen companions -- you provide them with food and water, affection and exercise, and possibly more important of all: comfortable, appropriate shelter. You wouldn't leave your dog, cat, or other furry friend in a car on a hot summer day. And as the cold winter months approach in the United States, the same should be true for the formidable outdoors.
Sign the pledge to spread the word and promise to keep your pets warm, cozy, and safe inside this winter!
In 2019 alone, almost 40 companion animals died simply from being exposed to extreme cold. And those are just the ones that were reported.
It's understandable to think your pets enjoy their time outside. They do! Dogs love the freedom and enrichment that walks provide, and many family cats spend a good bit of their time outside. But when temperatures drop and extreme weather like snow, sleet, and strong winds roll in, it spells danger for any animals that are left outside and unsupervised.
When extreme hot or cold is involved, pets can do nothing to alleviate their own suffering. They need you to look out for them! Dogs notoriously have trouble cooling down in heat and there's no telling how many dogs and cats get frostbite, hypothermia or even die while left outside in the cold.
Even if our pets don't suffer the physical effects of being left out in the cold, the psychological toll is formidable. Many companion animals suffer from separation anxiety, which can only be exacerbated by the stress of withstanding extreme temperatures.
Let's spread the word to keep every single pet safe this winter! Sign the pledge that you will keep your furry friends safely indoors during the cold winter months.
