Right now, there is no federal law making it illegal to leave pets outside in freezing temperatures. There are federal laws that regulate and protect: farm animals, animals at slaughterhouses, animals at zoos, and endangered animals. But there are no federal laws that require pet owners to treat their pets with basic decency.

Winters are getting more extreme, and many dogs and cats could be left outside this season. Dogs and cats can get hypothermia and die if left in below freezing temperatures for too long. Tell Congress to make it a federal crime to leave pets outside in freezing conditions.

Dozens of states have laws making it illegal to leave pets in cars unattended. States like Texas, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey have made it a punishable offense to leave dogs and cats outside in below 32°F weather for more than 30 minutes. In Texas, violators can even face a $10,000 fine and prison time. The entire country should have to adhere to basic animal treatment laws like this one. Tell Congress to make leaving pets out in freezing conditions a federal crime.

Other animal rights legislation is likely to pass Congress this year. The bipartisan PACT Act has over 200 sponsors in the House of Representatives. This law will close a big loophole. Right now, it is illegal to film animal abuse, but not the act of abuse itself. With overwhelming support for the PACT Act in Congress, it’s clear that it’s possible to pass significant animal neglect legislation. Send the message to Congress: make it a federal crime to leave pets outside in freezing conditions.