11/10/2025
📢 EXTREME COLD ALERT! Protect Your Pets & Livestock 🥶
Freezing temperatures are expected today and over the next couple of days. Please take immediate action to ensure the safety and well-being of your animals. Bringing pets inside is always the safest option during severe cold.
🐾 For Dogs Left Outdoors
Adequate Shelter is the Law.
If your dog must be outside for an extended period, it must have adequate shelter that complies with local and state laws. Adequate shelter generally means a sturdy, insulated structure that is:
Solid walls and roof - pet taxi and wire crates are not legal shelter
Windproof and Moisture-Proof: Protected from the wind, rain, and snow.
Proper Size: Large enough for the dog to stand, turn around, and lie down comfortably, but small enough to retain body heat.
Draft-Free Entrance: A protective flap over the doorway helps keep the heat in and the cold wind out.
The RIGHT Bedding is CRITICAL:
✅ DO USE: Clean, Dry STRAW
Straw is the dry stalk of a harvested grain (like wheat). Its hollow structure traps air, making it an excellent insulator that repels moisture.
Pack it loosely and deeply so your dog can burrow into it.
❌ DO NOT USE: Hay or Blankets/Towels
Hay (animal feed) absorbs moisture and will hold dampness against your pet, which can freeze and actually make them colder.
Blankets, towels, and rags also quickly absorb moisture and retain dampness. They can freeze solid in frigid temperatures, leading to a much colder and potentially dangerous resting space.
🐄 For Livestock (Cattle, Sheep, Goats, Horses, etc.)
Fuel the Furnace! Livestock use a lot of energy to stay warm.
🔥 Forage Equals Heat: The digestion of high-quality hay or other forage produces internal heat (a process called the "heat of fermentation"). Provide extra hay, especially during extreme cold, to help them generate warmth from the inside out.
💧 Water is Essential: Animals can become dehydrated quickly in winter. Constantly check water sources and break up any ice at least twice a day. If possible, providing warm water (just above freezing) encourages them to drink more, which is vital for health and for digestion that generates heat.
If you see an animal without adequate food, water, or shelter in these freezing conditions, please contact dispatch for a welfare check .
Remember: Your pet depends on you to keep them safe from the cold!