It is also very important that your pets have appropriate shelter from the freezing temperatures. As part of our Animal Ordinance, we've included the animal care portion below.
Sec. 4.04.005 Animal care
(f) An animal’s owner shall provide the animal with shelter that:
(1) Is large enough for the animal to enter, stand, turnaround, and lie down in a natural manner; a structure with three sides, a roof and a floor that prevents rain or other precipitation from entering; or a structure of dome, or other, shape with a floor that provides the animal with shelter from all weather conditions;
(2) Keeps the animal dry;
(3) Provides the animal with natural or artificial shade from direct sunlight;
(4) Protects the animal from excessive heat and cold and other adverse weather conditions
(5) Is adequately ventilated; and
(6) Large livestock shall be exempted.
At 32 degrees water bowls will freeze, leaving pets without access to drinkable water
Without shelter their bodies don't keep heat efficiently from the wind and elements
Pets can go into shock, get frost bite to their exposed skin, can suffer irreversible organ failure and death
Do not leave pets in a vehicle
Protect Plants
Plants, gardens and flowerbeds should be covered to trap heat energy from the ground, according to the Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Service.
More information from Texas A&M Agrilife Extension On Protecting Plants in Freezing Weather
