Jan 18, 2024 By Jon Andreassi 2 min read

Despite their abundance of fur, dogs and other pets need to be protected from the frigid temperatures.

With the wind chill making it feel close to zero degrees Fahrenheit, dogs should be limited in their time outside.

“I would say no more than 20 minutes,” said Megan Sonson, office manager at East Maiden Animal Clinic in Washington. “Outside to go potty, and back in. As quick as possible.”

In fact, pet owners put themselves at legal risk if they leave their dog in the cold. Under Pennsylvania law, you can be fined if a dog is left tethered outside in freezing temperatures for longer than 30 minutes.

Kelly Proudfit, executive director of the Washington Area Humane Society, warned that these laws are being enforced locally.

“We have a full-time humane officer who is actively writing citations. She wrote two (Monday),” Proudfit said.

Dogs are susceptible to frostbite and could potentially freeze to death in these temperatures. If your dog struggles with being indoors, Proudfit suggests gating off an area of your home.

“You have to have a safe place in your house to keep them. They need to be warm, and have accessible water at all times,” Proudfit.

Farm animals are also legally required to have proper shelter from the elements.

“We are going out on tons of calls for dogs and horses. We are writing citations actively. Follow the laws,” Proudfit said.

After taking your dog out to handle its business, Sonson says to make sure you are cleaning snow, ice and salt off their paws and out of their fur.

“Ice can actually cause a problem. They can get small lacerations between their paws because of ice,” Sonson said.

According to the National Weather Service, temperatures are expected to stay below 32 degrees Fahrenheit for the rest of the week.

“If it’s too cold for you to be outside, it is probably too cold for your pet to be out there,” Sonson said.