As cruel as it is, I see pets left out in the cold a lot. It is important to remember that if it is too cold for you to be outside without some sort of warmth, then it is too cold for your pet to be left out for long. Especially short-haired animals. They need a dog house with hay or straw to keep warm (not a shed or covered porch; this will only keep the rain off of them, not the cold).

There are cruelty laws to protect animals, and leaving them out in the cold, freezing temps without a warm place to lay, especially at night, is cruel and covered under these laws.

Please consider your pets this winter and how you would feel if left out shivering in the cold all night. Crate them inside at night if they are not potty trained. Our pets are supposed to be part of our family. They are a gift, not something to acquire and then throw out into the yard and forgotten. If you can’t properly care for an animal, then don’t put one through this.

Some people have victims, not pets. They are feeling creatures and need love and attention just like we do. If you can’t give them that, then you do not deserve to have one.

If you see a neighbor’s dog who has a situation like this, please report it. You may save the dog’s life. If anything, you’ll make his life better.

Gandhi once said, “The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” If this is the case, then America is in trouble. I’ve traveled to Germany, and they treat animals with kindness and compassion. You never see stray dogs or an animal sleeping on the cold ground, starving in someone’s back yard. I have tremendous respect for them because of this.

Even the Bible says a righteous man will care for his animal. I just can’t comprehend why people get a pet only to abuse it.

Dana Chepey