As ice and snow hit North Texas over the weekend, the city of Dallas received hundreds of complaints about animals left outside in freezing temperatures.
Dallas Animal Services received 401 weather-related complaints from Friday through Tuesday morning, which mostly involved dogs left outside with no shelter, according to Daniel Alvarado, assistant general manager for field operations.
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Alvarado said officers have completed 341 calls and issued 61 notices of violation, which are warnings to give owners a chance to correct the situation. Some of the 401 complaints were duplicate calls about the same animal.
D-FW Weather Wise
Calls completed with no warning issued typically mean no animal was without shelter when officers arrived.
Owners receive a notice of violation warning if an officer sees the animal in the cold without shelter, but officers must confirm the owner resolved the situation before leaving, Alvarado said.
A blanket of snow covers Dallas City Hall Jan. 27, 2026 in Dallas.
Azul Sordo / Staff Photographer
Alvarado said officers issued one citation over the past four days, which was given for a repeat violation after the initial warning. Fines begin at $156, according to city records.
State law requires animals left outside to have access to shelter and potable water. Alvarado said that means animals must have shelter with no leaks that insulate from inclement weather.
He said most weather-related violations have to do with the perception of animals.
“It’s how they were brought up and just how they see what role an animal has in their lifestyle,” Alvarado said.
While dog breeds like Huskies are genetically built to withstand cold weather, Alvarado said they still require shelter from the elements. Smaller breeds and dogs with thin coats suffer greatly in freezing temperatures, he said.
“Animals don’t have a voice that they can just tell us they’re cold, so providing them adequate shelter or bringing them inside at least helps,” he said.
Dallas Animal Services typically has four to five officers on shift to respond to complaints but pulled additional animal services employees during the storm to have six or seven officers in the field.