Protect Your Pets from the Cold

As the weather gets colder, make sure your pets are indoors and protected from the cold. Dogs and cats are not immune to freezing temperatures just because they have coats covering their bodies. 

Baby, it’s cold outside -- and if it's too cold for you, it's probably too cold for your pets.

​Dogs and cats usually fare better than their masters outdoors due to their coats, but freezing weather can still lead to frostbite and hypothermia in minutes.


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When the mercury drops below freezing, most dogs and cats can only endure 10 or 15 minutes outdoors -- fewer still if it's windy. And, we all know that it is windy in West Texas.

Besides frostbite and hypothermia being a major pet problem during the winter months, imagine the misery of being left out in the cold. Texas House Bill 1411 prevents the tethering or restraint of a dog kept outside in extremely cold weather, under 32 degrees Fahrenheit. 

​Unfortunately, that is not good enough. Animals deserve to be cared for and although we are thankful for everchanging laws to protect animals, common sense should be our guide in managing a pet’s exposure to winter weather.

A well- insulated dog-house filled with hay may offer some protection from the elements, but a warm fire and a few kernels of popped corn are better for everyone! ​

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Shelia Huffman, Contributor  
Shelia recently moved to the Greenwood community of Midland from Dallas where she was a staff writer for White Rock Lake Weekly and a columnist for Bubblelife Media.  A retired travel agent and event planner, she has  been an animal activist her entire life.  Shelia  has a daughter and son-in-law in Midland, a grandson in Dallas and a granddaughter at Texas Tech. She lists cooking and writing about food, and,  of course, playing with her Terrier Mix rescue, Penelope, as some of her favorite things.