Winter Pet Shelter Programs During Extreme Cold
Learn where dogs can board free during cold alerts and what to bring to pet-friendly warming centers.
Winter pet shelter programs during extreme cold are local services that give pets a warm place when owners seek shelter or need supplies. They include free emergency dog boarding, warming centers that accept pets in carriers, and straw bedding support. A warming center is a public building opened during dangerous cold for residents to stay warm.
These pet programs remove the choice between personal safety and staying with an animal.
Verification note: Program terms and availability can change. This page was checked against linked sources on November 06, 2026.
Can your dog stay elsewhere while you use a warming center?
According to the Franklin County Dog Shelter and Adoption Center, Franklin County residents entering county warming centers can use free temporary emergency boarding for dogs through emergency dog boarding details. The program uses the Emergency Services Line at 614-525-3400 ext. 1.
This option fits owners whose warming center cannot house animals in the same room. It applies only to dogs owned by Franklin County residents who are entering a county warming center during extreme cold. Call before traveling when possible.
Confirm hours, drop-off steps, vaccination records, and pick-up timing so boarding does not delay your access to shelter.
Which warming centers let pets stay with you?
According to Cook County Government, extreme-cold warming centers allow residents to bring pets in cages or carriers through its warming centers service page. Courthouse locations keep a limited number of cages and carriers for people without one. Bring a carrier, leash, food, water, waste bags, and any medication.
Keep dogs leashed and cats contained at all times. Availability of loaner cages is limited. Arrive early during a cold alert and expect rules about noise, waste cleanup, and separation of animals.
Where can you get help keeping pets warm at home?
According to the City of Albuquerque, the Animal Welfare Department and Bernalillo County Animal Care Services offer straw bedding while supplies last through cold-weather shelter and safety resources. The same notice tells owners to bring pets inside below freezing and watch for hypothermia. Straw helps because it insulates without holding water the way blankets can.
Place a thick layer inside a dry shelter and replace it when it becomes damp or packed down. This supply is seasonal and runs out. Ask early in a cold spell, and bring pets indoors whenever temperatures fall below freezing.
What does adequate outdoor shelter require?
According to the Humane Society of Greater Dayton, Ohio law allows outdoor animals only with adequate shelter, food, and unfrozen water, described in its winter storm preparedness guidance. Adequate shelter means sturdy, waterproof, and insulated, raised off the ground, with the entrance facing away from wind and straw bedding inside. Blankets and hay absorb moisture and can freeze.
Straw sheds moisture and holds warmth better for bedding. Use this checklist before a freeze:
- Move all outdoor animals inside until storms and cold pass when possible.
- Check water often so it does not freeze.
- Face shelter openings away from wind and keep bedding dry and deep.
- Wipe paws after walks where salt or ice melt is used.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to buy a carrier to use a pet-friendly warming center?
No. Some Cook County courthouse warming locations keep a limited number of cages and carriers, but supply is limited so bring your own if you have one.
Is straw better than blankets for dog houses?
For outdoor shelters, yes. Straw insulates and sheds moisture, while blankets and hay can absorb water and freeze.
When should pets come inside?
Bring pets inside below freezing and during winter storms, and watch for shivering, lethargy, or cold ears and paws.