Keep pets safe from extremes of weather

Category: Dogs, Pets

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Keep pets safe from extremes of weather

Updated Dec 8, 2024

Dear Cathy,

Though I agree with your response to the lady in Arizona who has the 12-year-old Golden Retriever who won’t drink water when outside, I also think that you should have said that a dog should not be kept all day in the heat, especially in Arizona. That poor dog. Please tell pet owners to keep dogs indoors during extreme heat. (Love the column.)

— Kristen, Schererville, Indiana

Dear Kristen,

Since it’s Fall, and we are heading into winter, I will make this an all-season alert. Please bring your pets indoors during extreme heat or extreme cold outside. During the summer, pets are susceptible to heat stroke if not given the proper shade for both them and their water. During the winter, water and pets can freeze if not provided a safe, dry place to stay warm. The general rule of thumb is, if it’s uncomfortable for you to be outside all day in the heat or cold, then it’s uncomfortable for your pet.

Cathy M. Rosenthal is a longtime animal advocate, author, columnist and pet expert who has more than 25 years in the animal welfare field. Send your pet questions, stories and tips to moc.tidnuptepobfsctd-45b6bf@yhtac. Please include your name, city, and state. You can follow her @cathymrosenthal

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Thank you for helping us spread the message of compassionate care and responsible pet ownership!

Cathy Rosenthal (aka The Pet Pundit), CHES, CFE

Animal Welfare Communications Strategist, Writer & Educator

Cathy M. Rosenthal is an award-winning humane educator and author, animal welfare strategist, pet columnist, and speaker who has spent more than 38 years working in animal welfare with local and national humane organizations. She helps people better understand and care for animals through her nationally syndicated My Pet World column and has been the longtime pet columnist for the San Antonio Express-News since 2003.

In addition to her writing, Cathy develops humane education, leadership, customer service, and compassion fatigue training programs for animal welfare organizations nationwide, and has helped raise millions of dollars through grant writing, strategic communications, and program development.

Cathy is the editor and curator of Humane Perspectives: Leadership in Animal Welfare and is the author of several books, including Grant Writing Boot Camp for Animal Advocates, The Lucky Tale of Two Dogs, and The Happy Tale of Two Cats, which was the 2026 winner of the Association of Professional Humane Educators’ (APHE) "Educator’s Choice Award" for Best Humane Education Book for Young Children. She also received the 2026 APHE Nathania Gartman Heroes Award for Impact in Humane Education. Her humane education programs in Texas have reached more than 45,000 elementary school children since 2019.

She resides in Texas with her husband, their cat Sterling, and a former community cat, Maddie, who successfully negotiated an indoor living arrangement but still considers human affection highly negotiable.