01/16/2024
🥶 Cold Weather Advisory!
Houston and the surrounding areas will have an arctic cold front early this week (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday) as temperatures will hit in the 20’s!
Please remember to keep your pets winter safe! 🐾❄️
An animal’s tolerance of cold weather varies depending on their breed, fur, body fat, activity level, age, and overall health.
It is strongly advised that pets be kept inside during extreme cold weather as just like people they can also get hypothermia and frostbite! Hypothermia signs in pets can include whining, shivering, anxiousness, slow moving, depression, and weakness.
If you are unable to provide shelter inside, please provide your pets with a warm, solid shelter outside (against the wind), it is the law! The Safe Outdoor Dogs Act, which went into effect January 2022 establishes these standards:
🏠 Provide shelter to protect dogs from extreme temperatures, inclement weather and standing water. The floor of the shelter should be off the ground (to minimize heat loss) and the bedding should be thick, dry and changed regularly to provide a warm, dry environment.
💧 Provide access to drinkable water. Water should be fresh, and non-frozen (you may have to change the water frequently).
⛓ If you must restrain your pets, it should be done safely. Chains are prohibited, but you can use humane materials that are designed to tether a dog.
We would still recommend against this, and instead advise that you bring them into a bathroom/laundry room, or garage.
Please call animal control at (713) 837-0311 for Houston or (281)275-2842 for Sugar Land— if you see a dog left outside in freezing weather without adequate shelter. Officers can now take immediate action for tethered dogs in distress!
