Would you leave your dog out in sub zero temps?

Question

I dont care if its a siberian husky or not, people do it and they should face jail time, just like child neglect, if you disagree than your an half brain idiot.

God bless you all for caring about gods creatures and having dignity and respect for animals.

I speak my mind on the half brain stuff and yes alot of people are half brained people and self centered and if you dont like it dont reply. Cant handle critisism go you know where to go. Animal welfare Michigan.

Dont get me wrong i will do the same for children that are being neglected too in the U.S not just animals.

Answer 1

No I would not leave my dog outside. Many states have laws against this and can press criminal charges if a dog doesn't have adequate shelter to keep it warm enough.

Answer 2

I agree with you 100%. It isn't just being a bad pet owner but it is cruel for dogs. There are always exceptions to the rules with the dogs outside but every animal left outside should have somewhere to go to get out of the rain, wind, hail whatever. Plus most dogs left outside all the time are the ones in the neighborhood that are barking their heads off every dang gone time someone so much as walks past the yard. In certain times of the year it is easier to report this kind of neglect too. most of the time when it is really cold or really hot too (what about those who leave their dogs inside the car in july with the windows only cracked a half an inch for hours at a time...like that isn't hot). ASPCA should really step up everywhere and take care of this kind of abuse. Most of the time though they are too busy or short staffed to do much of anything.

Answer 3

I wouldn't, but I don't have a cold-weather breed and I don't have dogs who spend enough time outside to have gotten used to it. Guess I have half a brain since I don't think just being outside is always neglect or abuse.

Please note that dogs belong with their people -- my dogs only go outside in subzero temps for a quick potty and play session -- because *I* don't spend half the day or night out there myself, so what's the point? Also please note that even working sled dogs in The Frozen North have dog houses for shelter. Leave that hypothetical husky in the yard all day all night without good shelter and I'll agree with you on the jail time!

Answer 4

Some dogs do much better in colder temperatures, such as a Siberian Husky. All must, however, have some form of shelter against harsh weather. The local Humane society freely gives recommendations for proper shelter. I know from experience that they may forcefully take your dog away whenever it is not properly sheltered. Poor shelter is called neglect. The dog house design they recommend is very good. You may report to them if you know of someone "neglecting" their dog. They will take aggressive action from there.
Note: Your "half brain idiot" comment is not necessary in this forum.

Answer 5

It depends what the dog is used to. The "if it's too cold for you it's too cold for them" rule does not apply to my siberian huskies. They easily and happily withstand temperatures much lower than I can. They have a doggy door so they can come and go as they please. Although they are usually inside in their beds when I wake up, it is not uncommon to find them hanging out on the back porch in the wee hours of the morning. If they're happy, I'm happy.

The important thing here is to give them the option of coming inside if they want to.

*edit*
I should also add the caveat that I assumed a dog house is present in the "left outside" scenario. If we are talking purely about putting the dog outside unprotected for some extended period of time just because you don't want him inside, then yeah, that's bad.

Answer 6

i don't believe in having an out door dog at all. it should be in the house with the family socializing and being made family. dogs outside are often neglected in some ways even if it is unintentially. it is too easy for some people and most kids to forget to go outand feed and water the animal or to make time to play or socialize with them. i don't think an out door dog on a chain or fenced in is or can be nearly as happy as an in door dog who gets loved cuddled fed played with and bathed regularly. unfortunately some people have no 2nd thought to placing a dog outside with a little dog house on a chain or fenced in. no i would not leave my dog outside longer than to use the bathroom if it is terribly cold! there is some places where it is illeagle to have an animal out doors if the weather is at a certain degree or lower. in that case owners are given the chance to shelter the dog properly or to insulate the dog house area inside and out with straw and anything else to help protect it from the weather if nothing is done when they check back they are then fined and the dog is takin away from them..


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Answer 7

I would NEVER leave my dogs out for long in subzero temps, or in hot eather either. For that meeter, they are rearely outside even in nice weater for more than half an hour. In the cold they're out just long enough to do their stuff. Unfortunately some people do leave their dogs out in all weather, though. We have a pit bull in the clinic right now that's almost starved to death and has frostbite on the edges of his ears. Poor guy, he's the sweetest thing, though:(

Answer 8

Are you talking about sub zero temperatures in Celsius or Fahrenheit? Because where I live, our winters comprise of sub zero temperatures in Celsius everyday, and it's not considered cruel to leave your dog outside for large periods of time as long as they have a thick coat and shelter, and as long as the temperature doesn't drop too low.

My dog has a very thick coat, and when she was younger, she would be outside in winter all day. But now that she's 12 years old, she's in most of the time because she can't take the cold as well. As long as you're sympathetic to the needs of your dog and don't make it stay out if it can't take it, I don't see what's cruel about it.

Answer 9

There are very stiff penalties for animal abuse now days,unlike many years ago. Folks just threw their dogs in the yard and they survived however..As for my opinion,my dogs are like my children.They stay warm INSIDE,when it's cold out and stay cool inside when it's hot..Course we have this cool doggie door that connects to our sliding glass door and they come and go whenever. Being Rotties they love the cold,but they are treated with kindness and have a chose! I was one of those kids that drug all the strays home anyways,and they all wound up in the bed or under it..Be good to your dog,they just might save your life someday!!

Answer 10

To put it into perspective... I provide a warm dry and large shelter for my German Shepard. When it is like 10 degrees and snowing outside, the lunitic (my dog) lays out in the yard, with is accesable from his shelter, and goes to sleep in the snow, an hour later he is still there, covered in snow, and seems to love it, becase he never prefers his shelter unless its dumping rain. I guess that is his choice...

EDIT:: His out side shelter is a sun room, where I spend most my time, And he sleeps on the other side of mybed at night, but he still loves the cold!

Answer 11

My dog's hair is not even an inch long. I let her out and really encourage her to go pee-pee, then go poo-poo. If she doesn't go poo within an couple of minutes, I bring her back in and let her out a little while later.
It about -25*F with the wind chill in Southern Ontario right now. I would definately report someone who has left their dog outside longer than 20 minutes or I would probably knock on their door and tell them to give their head a shake and let the dog in.