Louisville is seeing more snow and freezing temperatures this weekend meaning both people and animals should not be outside in the weather for very long.
If you see a cat roaming around in the freezing cold, should you call someone? If your neighbor left their dog tied up outside, can you report it? We’ve got the answers.
❄️LIVE BLOG: Kentucky winter storm live updates Jan. 10, 2025: How much snow expected in Louisville, Ky.?
How can you tell if a dog has been out in the cold too long?
If a dog is lifting up theirs paws or shivering, those are indicators that the pet is cold.
When it is below freezing, dogs shouldn’t be outside much longer than it takes them to use the bathroom, so 10-15 minutes is a safe bet for most dogs, but it can vary depending on the breed, size of the dog and how thick their coat is, according to veterinarian Sarah Wooten.
During the current conditions, Louisville Metro Animal Services recommends pets should be brought inside.
“We’ve made this informational graphic to encourage residents to bring pets inside,” public information officer for Louisville Metro Animal Services Stephanie Jackson told the Courier-Journal. “As far as resources go, we have limited amount of dog house igloos for residents with outside dogs that cannot bring their dogs in.”
This infographic details winter pet safety during cold temperatures as advised by Louisville Metro Animal Services.
What do I do if I see cats outside in the cold?
Alley Cat Advocates in Louisville has tips for caring for unowned, community cats in snow and cold temperatures:
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Remember to knock on the hood of your car before starting it. Cats climb into engines for warmth and protection.
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Community cats can get snowed in, so it is important to remove snow from all entrances and exits to their shelters. Shovel regularly to stay ahead of the snowfall.
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Avoid using salts and chemicals that are designed to melt snow near your cat colonies. They can be toxic when licked off paws or ingested from melting puddles and can hurt a cat’s paw pads.
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Provide plenty of dry food in addition to wet, as wet food will freeze in subfreezing temperatures.
Another suggestion is to provide shelters for these cats to warm up:
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A cardboard shelter is better than no shelter. To keep it from getting wet, elevate it off the ground, line with newspapers, and cover the lid with plastic such as a garbage bag.
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Use sheets of plywood to weigh down lightweight shelters made from plastic, cardboard, etc.
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Cats rely on body heat to stay warm, so keep your shelters small for colonies with just a few cats. For larger colonies, provide multiple shelters.
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Because it resists moisture, straw is the top choice for insulation and bedding in your shelter. Avoid blankets, which tend to absorb moisture and freeze.
How to report animals left out in the cold in Louisville
Residents in Jefferson County can call 502-473-7387, select their language preference, and then press 1 to report to Animal Control, according to Jackson. Residents can leave a message if no one answers.
Katie Wiseman is a trending news reporter at IndyStar. Contact her at klwiseman@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @itskatiewiseman or Bluesky @katiewiseman
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: How to report neglected pets during freezing temperatures in Louisville