The Oklahoma Alliance for Animals is responding to reports of chained animals in freezing weather, hoping to save animals that might otherwise perish.

“We see a lot and imagine what we don't see, said Jan Lavender, an OAA volunteer. “Unfortunately, in this weather, there will be animals that just don't make it.”

Friday, she, Trish Bosley, and another volunteer visited a home in Tulsa with three pit bulls on tethers in the backyard, with bare shelters, no food, and water that was frozen.

They supplied fresh water and filled the shelters with straw.

“It's not the best, but it's better than nothing. At least they can burrow into the straw,” said Lavender.

Trish Bosley said people report dangerous situations to them by phone or through their website.

“We get calls every day, but the calls jump exponentially with cold weather, and we try to get teams in the field as fast as we can,” she said.

Though plenty of animals live outside all the time, a City of Tulsa ordinance requires owners to bring them in when it's 25 degrees or colder. Tethers are discouraged, and it's against the law to have animals chained up overnight.

The Alliance responds with supplies and education, and only the worst cases are escalated to City Animal Welfare, which was busy Friday responding to the same kind of reports.

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