Police, shelter warn: C.O. pets vulnerable in cold weather

The Humane Society of Central Oregon is starting to see more injured pets come in after being left outside in the freezing cold weather.

Bend police say leaving pets outside in below-freezing temperatures could lead to owners being cited and charged for animal neglect.

“You know, if it’s too cold for you as a human to be outside, it’s definitely too cold for an animal as well,” HSCO Outreach Director Lynne Ouchida said.

The animal shelter says owners will tend to leave their pets outside because their pets are not house trained. But without proper protection against the cold, pets could freeze.

“Every year, we see animals that come in with injuries due to the cold, whether it’s frostbitten ears or frostbitten paws,” she said.

Last month, a Bend resident was cited and charged with animal neglect after leaving their dog out during single digit temperatures.

Bend police Lt. Clint Burleigh said the dog owner, Janice McDaniel, 36, was arrested by citation on a second-degree animal neglect charge on Nov. 27 as the dog had been left outside overnight in a fenced yard without food, water or shelter. He said it had dug a hole in landscaping and was curled up in the center in an attempt to stay warm.

The Humane Society has dealt with cat victims too.

Dog owners at a dog park said late Friday they make sure their dogs are staying warm during the freezing or below-freezing temperatures.

“We actually use little jackets for them. We don’t let them outside for too long for any long amount of time at all, and make sure they do come inside and warm up,” pet owner Emily Palmer said.

If anyone sees a pet who is outside during these freezing temperatures, you’re asked to call Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Animal Control at 541-693-6911