California's Plummeting Temperatures Spark Warning to Pet Owners

Residents of California's San Joaquin Valley are being asked to keep their pets warm amid a December cold snap.

A freeze warning from the National Weather Service (NWS) in Hanford is in effect until 8 a.m. Wednesday. The NWS asked residents to bring pets indoors and shield sensitive plant life while overnight temperatures are expected to dip to as low as 28 degrees.

While the San Joaquin Valley cold streak is still warmer than many other areas of the country, the temperature is significantly lower than what the NWS said is the area's normal low for this time of year, 35 degrees. The historic low for Monday was 20 degrees, recorded in 1947.

Regardless of their location, pet owners should be aware of the potentially deadly dangers posed to animals like dogs and cats as temperatures dip below freezing during the winter season.

A National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration graphic warning "Don't forget your pets," sent to Newsweek by the NWS in response to a request for comment, reminds pet owners that winter can be deadly even for animals with natural fur coats.

The NWS urges residents of areas with cold weather to keep their pets warm and dry, well-hydrated and indoors whenever possible. When walking dogs, they should be bundled up and returned indoors as quickly as possible.

According to a report from the Humane Society of the United States, "pets left outside in extreme temperatures, especially without food or shelter, are at risk of hypothermia, frostbite and even death."

The paws of dogs that have been outside during winter should also be thoroughly cleaned when returning indoors, especially in areas that commonly use rock salt as a de-icing measure. Ingestion of the substance can lead to salt poisoning.

"Leaving pet cats or dogs outside in extreme cold-weather conditions without adequate food, water, and shelter from the elements, puts them at risk of hypothermia, frostbite and even death," Barbara Hodges, DVM, of the Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association, said in a statement to Newsweek. "Ideally, pets should be kept indoors when outdoor temperatures are below freezing [32 degrees Fahrenheit].

"Wind chill can make the environment feel much colder to animals than the actual air temperature. Juvenile and elderly pets, and those with chronic medical conditions are less able to thermoregulate and should be even more rigorously protected from the cold."

Owners who endanger their pets are at risk of facing criminal charges. Animal neglect is at least a misdemeanor in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., while felony charges are possible in D.C. and at least eight states.

"The act of leaving a pet outside without food or adequate shelter often receives less attention than a violent attack against an animal, but neglect is a crime," the Humane Society says. "Especially in these cold months, it is important for people to bring their pets inside and for others to report neglected animals to law enforcement."

The Humane Society also recommends outdoor shelters for feral cats spotted wandering in winter weather. Shelters can either be purchased fully constructed or made with inexpensive items like storage bins or scrap lumber and lined with straw.

The website NeighborhoodCats.Org offers additional tips on feeding, watering and caring for cats that remain outdoors in winter weather.

Update 12/11/23, 4:20 p.m. ET: This article was updated with a statement from Barbara Hodges.