12/21/2022
This was shared by Jim Kent, and I am sharing, without consulting him, BECAUSE IT IS SO IMPORTANT!! PLEASE, PLEASE - DO NOT LEAVE YOUR PETS OUTSIDE IN THIS WEATHER!! Ithank you from the bottom of my heart!!
****With the COLD weather upon us - and getting colder, I just wanted to remind everyone about their furry best friends with a column I wrote a few years back.
"Dogs Get Cold Too ā Even Those With Fur From The Rez"
Making a Noise in This World - December 11, 2017
By Jim Kent
Itās getting cold across the Northern Plains ā have you noticed?
Even here in Hot Springs ā the ābanana beltā of the Black Hills, those 70-degree days are just a fond memory.
And though sunshine and warmth are still in the forecast between now and yearās end, my trusty L.L. Bean āWeather Stationā (the best Christmas gift Iāve gotten in years) showed 21 degrees at 3 this afternoon ā or, well before sunset.
Right now, itās 16. Orā¦ too cold for my dog, Kylie, to be outside for an extended period, as far as Iām concerned. She may not think so ā because sheās a tough little husky-mix from Pine Ridge with lots of fur whoād stay out in this frigid weather til she became a popsicle.
But since even the most intelligent dogs (among which huskies rank high) only have the smarts of a 2-year old child, sheās not making that decisionā¦no matter how much that skunk, raccoon, rabbit or deer herd is annoying her into bark mode.
One of my greatest concerns for any dog is that it be safe and warm during the winter.
Iāve never understood those who take ownership of a dog only to leave them outside in all kinds of weather.
For me there are few sights worse than that of a canine, literally, freezing outside a warm home: shivering, frost on its face, while its āmasterā sits cozy inside.
My mindset is that once you take ownership of an animal, especially a dog, itās now part of your family. You train it. You feed it. You care for it. You keep it cool in summer, warm in winter and safe at all times. And it does not live outside. Though it may be there for a major portion of the day, at night itās inside with me. With the family.
Thatās my belief, but itās shared by many veterinarians and animal shelters.
Although statistics are only available for cats right now ā a 2-year lifespan living outside versus more than 10 inside, recent research points toward the reality that dogs who live inside the home also stay with us longer than those that live outside. The constant stress of exposure to the elements, regardless of the type of shelter provided, can wear a dog down long before its time. Outside dogs are also more prone to developing health issues.
This seems obvious to me and, apparently, to the state of Pennsylvania which recently passed legislation making it illegal to leave a dog outside in extreme weather conditions.
āLibreās Lawā states that dogs canāt be kept outside for more than 30 minutes if the weather is below 32 degrees - or if the weather is above 90 degrees. Anyone in violation faces a fine and a potential jail sentence of 6 to 12 months.
Extreme, you say? The animal rescue workers who found a puppy living under horrific outdoor conditions in Lancaster County, Pa. donāt think so. His successful battle for survival sparked the push for the law that bears his name; a piece of legislation the Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association called āan incredible victory for animals.ā
Yes, I realize out here āin Godās countryā ā both off the rez and on ā the general mindset among many for generations has been ādogs live outside the homeā.
But itās a mindset that dates back to a time when people, themselves, spent much more time outdoors in all kinds of weather and generally lived in much less comfortable conditions than they do now.
No, not everyone has a model home. But if you have a roof over your head, youāre doing better than your ancestors who frequently lived āunder the starsā.
If you must keep your pet outside, please make sure it has a shelter where it can escape some of the brutal weather the Northern Plains offersā¦ preferably one thatās lifted off the cold ground. Give it plenty of warm blankets and a flap cover for the entrance, if possible.
For those with a few dollars to spend - and they donāt cost much, heated bowls and sleeping pads are also available; most at any Wal Mart.
In the end, the simplest solution is to bring your dog inside when itās excessively cold.
The fact is that dogs are highly social animals. Their ancestors and cousins, the wolf, live in packs, hunt together, play together and sleep together.
The moment you brought your dog into your world, you became āAlphaā ā its pack leader. That means āyouā have complete responsibility for its welfare.
Jim Kent is an award-winning freelance writer and radio producer who lives in Hot Springs, S.D. His commentaries have appeared in Indian Country Today, the Lakota Times, the Rapid City Journal as well as regional and national publications across the country. He is the former editor of The New Lakota Times. His stories have been heard on National Public Radio and other national radio outlets. Jim can be reached at [email protected]
Photo: My closest "best pal" for the longest time (so far) was Buddy - our Belgian Shepherd from the Rosebud Reservation. He was 8 years old when this picture was taken. Like all our dogs he loved the snow, but we always made sure he didn't stay out too long. By our second winter together he understood what "enough" winter weather was and would bark to come inside. Good boy!
