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Thanks to a concerned neighbor, a Houston man has been arrested after the Harris County Humane Society rescued 8 dogs found to have been left outside in the freezing cold likely since the winter weather began last week.

Sadly, the dogs were not only reported to be left in the cold but they were severely malnourished with one of the 8 dogs suffering from a broken jaw.

You've heard that during cold weather it's paramount to protect the 3 P's; your plants, your pipes, and your pets. But did you know you could be arrested specifically for leaving your pets outside in inclement weather?

KCENTV reports that, "According to Texas law, a pet owner “may not leave a dog outside and unattended by use of a restraint that unreasonably limits the dog's movement” when temperatures dip below 32 degrees.

According to the Humane Society of the U.S., animal neglect is considered a misdemeanor crime in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. That law isn’t just for cold weather. It also applies to heat advisories, tropical weather, or tornado warnings."

Remember if it's too cold for you to be outside, it's too cold for your pets as well.

There are an abundance of tips to help keep your pet protected during the winter and you can read some of those tips directly from sights like the ASCPA American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

But just for good measure, here are a few you may not have heard about to give your pet the extra love and protection they deserve, like massaging petroleum jelly or other paw protectants into paw pads before going outside can help protect from salt and chemical agents. Pets burn extra energy by trying to stay warm in the wintertime so feeding your pet a little bit more during the cold weather months can provide much-needed calories. Another tip is to change their food and water bowls to plastic to help food and water from freezing and your pet getting their tongues stuck as well as banging on your vehicle before starting it in order to scare animals off that might have curled up under the hood to keep warm.

If you happen to see animals outside in freezing weather you can call Victoria Police Department at 361.573.3221

 

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