I have four large dogs, plus SDog the Peeing Wonder who likes to mark in my house. Every night these five pups are in my bedroom behind a closed door, where they are safe and warm. We have a dog door, but we don't let the dogs have run of the house at night for fear they will go out their door and bark. We are responsible and keep them with us in our room.

My young neighbors moved in last February and have a 5yo Alaskan Malamute. They just got a puppy this past fall, and he is a 5 Month old Golden Retriever. I fear that the two have been left outside since Wednesday while this couple has gone off to see family for the holiday! I woke up last night at 1am because two of my pups needed to pee. I hear the Malamute doing a short bark, nothing too worrisome, except for the fact that she is outside and it's 25 degrees out!

I used to have a Malamute and I know they can withstand the cold. There is a large doghouse in my neighbor's yard, even though it faces NW, the direction where all the wind and the cold blows from. My main concerns, apart from the fact that dogs are members of the family are: 1) Can the 5 month old Golden withstand this cold weather for three nights in a row, and 2) If it's been this cold, how can they drink water? Our dog bowl outside has had a frozen chunk of water in it for days. There is snow on the ground from Wednesdays 3 inches or so that fell (I'm in Maryland) and the dogs could eat that. But now the Malamute is over there howling, as if distressed. The trashcans haven't been brought in which means the owners aren't home!

I am sick to my stomach and pissed. We haven't even seen really cold weather here yet in Maryland. What is everyone else's experience? This is breaking my heart. I may call my vet for some input.

~ Moon