Domestic animals depend on their owners for food, water and decent shelter from the winter's cold, ice and wind.

And quite often those animals are let down.

"People don't always seem to worry about their pets as much as they try and let on," said Franklin County Animal Control Supervisor Jarrett Broy.

Broy said common negligence includes having no or inadequate shelter for an animal, leaving water to freeze and simply leaving dogs outside that are in no condition for it.

"We see people who have pet carriers outside with a towel in it," Broy said. "The towel absorbs moisture and gets wet, and then they have to sleep in that. I just don't know what these people are thinking."

Broy said he is a year-round proponent of proper treatment, but he is particularly concerned about the living conditions for animals as temperatures drop.

"There are a lot of breeds that are meant to be in the house," he said. "They live outside and they can survive that, but they have got to have housing and shelter and water.

"People always have their excuses. We run into a lot of people who have their dogs tied up and they can get under a car or in a shed and they (owners) think that's good enough. I feel really bad for these little fellows that aren't even supposed to be out there."

There are about 50 dogs in the shelter in Franklin County.

"We have had a lot of people bring them in because they can afford them," he said. "That's a big thing right now. They sign them over and they are legally ours. Why put a dog down when they might have a chance?"

Unfortunately, there are quite a few dogs in the shelter that were rescued from dangerous conditions, including two neglected females with pups.

"She was rescued from Freeman Spur," he said of a small Sheppard mix and her two pups. "It was her and the pups and another dog that we brought back. They are going to a rescue (home). The owners had another dog that had died and froze to the ground, and they didn't even know it."

Dr. Gary McKibben with the Animal Medical Center in Marion said Tuesday that forgetting that water freezes and leaving animals without an adequate supply of fresh, unfrozen water is a problem he often sees.

"If we see bad ones, then we call the Humane Society," he said. "A lot of dogs that are in good condition and have dry shelter with bedding are fine outside if they are given food and water."

McKibben said dogs more than 50 pounds can generally handle living outside during cold temperatures. He said smaller dogs, pregnant females or puppies should be kept inside.

"If any dog is going to be outside, then they need to have a dry and warm place to stay," he said.

tara.fasol@thesouthern.com/351-5824