30 dogs last year died because of being left out in the middle of winter. Even more could suffer if we don't act soon. 

     Dogs can catch hypothermia, just like you or me. Anything colder than 40 degrees could be unsafe, temperatures below 25 are harmful, and below 20 could be life-threatening. Just know that if it is too cold for you, it is too cold for them. 

     Sadly, some owners don't even care. There have even been several reports of shelter dogs chained outside, literally frozen to death. Horrifically, one owner threw the body of his dead pup into a dumpster as if its life didn't matter. There should be some sort of penalty for this awful behavior.

     There are no Michigan laws that prevent you from leaving your dog outside during winter, only ones that make sure pets have access to food, shelter, and water. These are great laws. However, in Michigan, I believe that keeping them warm is also a necessity. We have extremely cold winters- the polar vortex that happened last year is a good example. Anybody who had stayed outside for more than 5 minutes could've gotten frostbite. The same is true for animals. Leave them out too long and they could be seriously hurt. 

     I'm aiming to reach Michigan senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow with this petition and help to change laws about keeping our pets safe. 

     We should do all we can to keep our pets safe and healthy. I love my dog and wish everyone would care as much as I do about our lovely companions- man's best friend.