The owner of a Siberian husky defended her decision to allow her pup out on a walk during a snowstorm, and social media users have taken her side.
In a TikTok video shared earlier in November by Laura Stanton under the username @kodanfriends, the fluffy pup can be seen outside of her front door, where she is trying to drag her mom out on a walk by pulling the leash.
Stanton tries in vain to call her back, but Koda refuses to go, lying down on the ground instead, as if telling her mom that she is not going to change her mind.
“Just a reminder as it gets colder – the husky outside is not neglected,” says layover text on the clip.
The poster told Newsweek that as soon as it starts getting colder outside, all her 7-year-old pup wants to do is be outdoors 24/7, playing in the snow.
“We do make her come in to sleep at night, but if it were up to her she wouldn’t. I made the video as a reminder to people who may worry about a dog like her. Letting them know that she is very loved and well cared for,” Stanton, 27, said.
“Not that their concern isn’t valid, but that likely a dog that is bred for colder climates and otherwise appears well cared for is choosing to be outside.”
In the caption to the video, which was filmed in New Mexico, the poster says she called Koda for over five minutes, asking her to come back inside, but with no success.
“It was more to prove a point that she was very happy out there in that snowstorm. Before owning Koda, I would have likely been concerned about the dog outside in a snowstorm. She really does look very sad when she’s asleep covered in snow, but I promise that is when she is happiest.”
Huskies were bred to endure cold and snowy weather. A Dogster article says it’s warm weather that they struggle with. They even have to shed their coat to avoid overheating.
Their thick coat, large body size, fluffy ears and snow-proof paws help them thrive in cold temperatures like no other dog.
Veterinarian Jess Kirk says in a Vet Explains Pets article that because they are an active breed, huskies need regular exercise regardless of the weather. This means that even when it’s snowy outside your pup still needs a daily walk.
While huskies don’t shy away form the cold, it’s important that owners know their limits.
Studies have found that when exposed for a long period of time to temperatures lower than minus 7 degrees Fahrenheit, these dogs may too be exposed to frostbite or hypothermia.
The video quickly went viral and has so far received over 2.8 million views and 430,000 likes.
One user, Mel, commented: “He probably wants you to close the door because you’re letting the heat out.”
Chelsea said: “I’m a lot more concerned when I see my neighbors leave their husky outside all day in 90°+ days in the summer.”
Bianca Lorrin wrote: “I have a husky. Begged him for hours to come in but he had made a snow bed and wasn’t having it. Karen the neighbor came to give me a speech on caring for dogs.”
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