JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — As you do your best to stay warm in the freezing temperatures, don’t forget about your pets.
Mike Merrill with Florida Urgent Rescue [FUR], a Jacksonville based non-profit, said the conditions are dangerous, even for dogs with a lot of fur.
“It’s going to be 28 degrees tonight and five of the next six nights are going to be below freezing. The dogs in Florida are not used to the cold weather they can get frost bite they can get exposure they can die," Merril said.
Merrill spent Tuesday afternoon working with Union County officials to find temporary homes for dogs who were in outdoor kennels at the Union County Prison.
“They just don’t have the resources to build a shelter like many other organizations would. And these dogs are just out in the cold," he said.
His volunteers brought nearly a dozen dogs to the Pet Paradise in Fleming Island, where dogs were sent to different facilities as far as Tampa.
Merrill said if you think a blanket will be enough to keep your dog warm outside, think again.
He said it can get damp from the dew and freeze overnight.
He also recommends not putting your dog in the garage, inside is the safest place for your pet.
S.A.F.E Pet Rescue, London Sanctuary, Mercy Full Project and Palm Valley Veterinary Center all helped FUR relocate the dogs.