City Ordinance Requires Pet Owners To Take Extra Precautions Amid Winter Weather Conditions

These brutal temperatures are not only dangerous for people but for animals and wildlife also. 

Several calls into the Oklahoma City Animal Welfare are prompting them to take extra steps to keep animals safe.  

“Our previous ordinance, all it required is that they have a doghouse, and so as long as there was a doghouse provided, even if they were freezing, there wasn’t anything we could do,” Jon Gary, the Superintendent of OKC Animal Welfare, said. 

He said they couldn’t protect animals the way they needed to be during last year’s winter storm. Sadly, causing some animals to die in extreme temperatures.  

“In February of last year, we had some of the coldest temperatures we’ve ever seen here in Oklahoma, and we were getting a lot of calls for dogs left out in the cold that were in danger,” Gary said.  

A new ordinance passed this year with some new guidelines for pet owners during freezing temperatures. 

“The extreme temperatures can be really hard on animals, both companion animals, farm animals and wildlife,” Kristy Wicker, the Education & Communications Manager for WildCare Oklahoma, said.  

Since the new ordinance, owners are not allowed to leave their pet outside for more than 30 minutes. 

“Obviously, dogs have to be let outside to go the restroom, some just enjoy being outside. We understand that there are particular breeds that can withstand particular temperatures, so our officers are able to evaluate those situations,” said Gary.  

Even if they have shelter, they need a proper heat source.  

“You don’t want to just stick a regular space heater inside of a doghouse, that is not going to work. It needs to be something safe for the dog,” he said.  

While the WildCare Foundation doesn’t always work with cats and dogs, they’re warning people with larger livestock to take extra care.  

“It’s a challenge because people don’t want to be out with those temperatures either but whenever you have animals outside you need to make sure they are caring for them,” said Wicker.  

People within Oklahoma City limits who don’t abide by the ordinance can be fined up to $500 if they refuse to bring their pet in.