Cold Weather Advisory
COLD WEATHER ADVISORY
KANSAS CITY, MO – The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for the greater Kansas City metro area. The Professionals for a Humane and Safe Kansas City urge all pet owners to bring their pets indoors until temperatures are above freezing. We also call on all property owners to allow renters to bring their pets indoors through February 12, 2014, when temperatures are predicted to rise to slightly above freezing.
The City of Kansas City, Missouri, issued this statement: “Important Message Regarding Winter Storm: [T]emperatures will be dangerously low and snow may cause whiteout conditions. All pets should be taken inside, leaving them out in this type of weather is considered animal cruelty and will be treated as such.”
Cold weather can threaten a pet’s life. Exposed skin on noses, ears, and paw pads can quickly freeze and suffer permanent damage in dangerously cold weather as well as freeze to the ground. Make sure your pet and the pets in your neighborhood have adequate shelter from the freezing weather. The shelter should be faced away from the wind, and contain straw or cedar shavings. The floor of the shelter should be raised a few inches off the ground, and is required to be off the ground according to most metro city laws.
Each metro city also has specific laws that outline the shelter your animal is required to have. Acity citation may be issued for pets that are not given adequate shelter or care, and in extreme circumstances, pets may be seized by law enforcement. Animal neglect is a misdemeanor according to Kansas and Missouri state law.
Contact your city’s animal control agency to report neglect of an animal. If it is after hours and there is no shelter whatsoever for the animal, contact your local law enforcement agency. Be sure to document what you see with pictures, a timeline, and notes.
Finally, warm engines in parked cars attract cats and small wildlife who may crawl up under the hood. To avoid injuring any hidden animals, bang on your car's hood to scare them away before starting your engine.
The following is a list of local resources that provide dog houses, straw, and food:
Humane Society of Greater Kansas City (primarily serves Kansas City, KS) – 913-596-1000
Great Plains SPCA – 913- 742-7311
Wayside Waifs – 816-761-8151 (dog food)
Spay and Neuter Kansas City– 816-353-0940
Unleashed Pet Rescue and Adoption–913-831-7387;
Chain of Hope (primarily serves Kansas City, MO) – 816-221-8080
*Disclaimer: Reference to the above listed outside organizations, products, and services is for the information and convenience of the public, and does not constitute endorsement or recommendation by the PHSKC.