01/24/2026
As cold weather moves into Philadelphia, please take extra steps to keep pets safe and warm:
🐱 Keep cats indoors. All indoor cats should stay inside during cold weather, even if they normally enjoy roaming outside in warmer months.
🐶 Limit outdoor time for dogs.
Dogs can go outside briefly for potty breaks and exercise, but should stay indoors the rest of the time. Northern breeds like huskies may tolerate longer outdoor time, but they should always be supervised.
🏠 Outdoor must have proper shelter.
If a dog is outdoors for extended periods during the day for any reason, they must have a dry, draft-free shelter that’s large enough to move around in, but small enough to retain body heat.
👉 ACCT Philly has straw available to help insulate outdoor shelters.
🧥 Dress for the weather.
Dogs with short coats may benefit from a sweater, even on short walks. If you’re bundled up, consider whether they need to be too.
🐾 Protect their paws.
After walks, wipe down your dog’s feet to remove rock salt and de-icing chemicals, which can irritate paw pads. Try to do this quickly so they don’t lick their paws...a warm washcloth works well.
☠️ Antifreeze warning.
If you use antifreeze, store it where pets and other animals cannot access it. Antifreeze is deadly poison to animals.
🗣️ Speak up for animals.
If you see a pet left in the cold without adequate shelter and feel comfortable doing so, inform the owner, they may not realize the danger cold weather poses.
🚨 See an abandoned animal during a Code Blue?
Call (267) 385-3800, then press 1, or email fieldservices@acctphilly.org with as many details as possible.
ACCT Philly enforces the Code Blue ordinance and can issue citations (violations can result in fines). If cruelty or neglect is suspected, cases are referred to PSPCA. Please be patient, our officers are responding citywide in all weather conditions.