What to Do If You See a Pet Left Out in the Cold

[bearssoapbox]

Last edited Mon Jan 6, 2014, 06:26 AM - Edit history (1)

I can't believe that people do that to pets that they supposedly love.

I had a bit of a reputation, when it came to neglect, in one town that we lived in while we rescued cats and helped other animal orgs.

Nothing violent started from me, but I became a regular at the courthouse and prosecutors office getting them to charge people and testifying when needed.

So do what you can.

Report neglect if you see it! Don't let them die from neglect. At least they have a better chance than doing nothing.

You can try talking to the owner yourself but it isn't always the best idea. Some can get nasty.

http://www.humanesociety.org/news/press_releases/2010/12/keep_pets_inside_winter_122110.html#.UsnR23mA1lY

No,I was never a defendant.

edit to add additional link and comment;

No kill info. Also google no kill shelters in your area. But beware, some shelters say no kill but have "exceptions".

There is some good, important info here about that, among other things.
http://www.nokilladvocacycenter.org/guides/

[Live and Learn]

1. So that the agency can jail the pet or worse kill it?

Some people mean well but just don't know better. Others may be going through a difficult period and could use some help. The decision is not always so black and white.

[bearssoapbox]

2. You're right.

But ignorance is no excuse when it come to life or death. Any chance is better than no chance.

And water is cheap and a door opens into a house when it's this cold for animals the same as it opens for people.

Any kind of appropriate shelter is better than leaving them to the elements.

There is help out there if they want it. Pride be damned. Don't take it out on the animal.

That being said, many people will try to fix things if they are made aware of the situation and know that their are resources out there to help them.

Even food banks have pet food.

Every person and their pet deserve to stay together but some don't.

I always tried to keep them together but some don't deserve the privilege.

I have a very low tolerance for those that don't try.

[Live and Learn]

3. True, life isn't fair

and many people, animals and our planet suffer because of it. All we can do right now is try to make the best decisions we can on an individual basis. I prefer to try to help the individual's needs so that they might be better able to take care of the animal or to find it alternate care when I can. (I'd take them all in but then I would be guilty of neglect, too.)

Anyway, I appreciate your love of pets and agree that they deserve good care. But I deplore the death penalty in all circumstances and find it most egregious when used against the innocent (like abused pets).

If I were in charge, all unwanted pets would be taken good care of through tax dollars since people are responsible for bringing them into the world. Of course, I would do the same for people and I will never be in charge.

[bearssoapbox]

4. I agree

My wife and I did mostly cat rescues for about 30 years and it can be heartbreaking at times, but very rewarding, especially when the families can stay together.

We never knowingly put an animal in a shelter where it would be killed. We even changed the policies of some the shelters that killed animals. The people that work in those that killed hated that duty.

You sound like you have a good heart.

Good to meet you.

[Live and Learn]

5. Every pet I have had has been a rescue

and they have returned the love I have given them 10 fold.

I actually find it easier to love animals than people but I know that people need help too (and that helping them will help pets).

Pets need advocates like you so thanks for being there. Just remember to have some heart for the people involved too (give them the benefit of the doubt).

Nice to meet you too.

[bearssoapbox]

6. Yes

Everyone has a story, some are heartwrenching and most want and accept help. That's why we always tried to keep them together. I think we had a pretty good record.

My wife figured it up once and I think it was somewhere around a 90% success rate at keeping them together. We still get cards from some of them.

[Live and Learn]

7. You are doing a wonderful job.

It is heartbreaking work and I can't thank you enough for doing it.

[CitizenLeft]

11. I have a horrible confession to make...

About 2 weeks ago, my girls demanded that they go out in the middle of the freaking night. I had been exhausted from work and had fallen asleep in the recliner, missing their normal 11:00 - midnight outing (fenced-in yard). They woke me up at 1:09 and started their We-Have-to-go-NOW routine (4-yr-old Shiba Inu/AST mix and a 15-yr-old Labradoodle who thinks she's a husky ). So I stumbled out of the recliner and let them out, noting the time. I sat down in a chair for just a moment - when it's cold, I don't go out with them, but I make sure they're only out for 5-10 mins. Well, hell, good intentions.

A single bark woke me up right out of the chair. My girls are not barkers, so I snapped awake. The clock read 2:14. FUCK ME, they'd been outside for over an hour. I freaked out and ran and let them in. Thank God it was something like 25 degrees and not sub-zero like this week. I nearly cried, worrying about them and worried that my asshole neighbors might (justifiably) do about barking at 2:14 in the morning. I have no idea how long the barking went on, if even more that just one bark. But it shook me up. They were fine, no damage at all. It's their paws that are in danger in that situation, but they were fine.

Since Friday night, I've had a terrible flu and missed 2 days of work. I've been drugged up on cold medicine and antibiotics and totally not lucid from fever. Had this happened Mon or Tue, when it was -8 degrees with -35 wind chill, it would've been a death sentence for my sweet girls, and I would never EVER have forgiven myself. Chances are my Riley would've made that single bark again - and another and another, if necessary - and I would've woken up again. Still... sobering and scary thought.

I've had dogs since 1978 and had never fallen asleep like that. And it had better not happen again.

[hobbit709]

8. Depends on the dog.

I once had a Siberian Husky/Norwegian Elkhound mix. He would rather curl up in the snow and sleep than come inside.

[bearssoapbox]

9. Yes

Snow is a good insulator. Sled dogs don't mind sleeping outside. They stay pretty warm buried in the snow.

I had, while growing up in SD, a dog of unknown mix that loved the snow. He would fall asleep outside and it was remarkable how warm he was after sleeping in the snow.

[LisaLynne]

10. Yeah, but in general, too many people assume animals are ok outside when they are not.

Farmers lose livestock in harsh weather, and farm animals are probably more used to being outside on their own than any of our pets.