Humane Society endures snow, subzero chill to care for animals
Panda plays in the snow with Alyssa Campoll at the Butler County Humane Society on Tuesday, Feb. 10. Staff members of the shelter keep dogs outside for only a few minutes at a time when the weather is cold. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
CONNOQUENESSING TWP — Dogs at the Butler County Humane Society may suffer from a little cabin fever in the snowy winter alongside people.
But the staff and volunteers of the shelter still aim to give the dogs enough time outside their kennels. Their reprieves are shorter, but taken more often to make sure they don’t get too cold.
Nikki Healy, marketing and development coordinator for the humane society, said dogs normally get at least 20 minutes outside their kennel at a time. That length is shorter when it’s raining or snowing.
“We have a rain rotation where that time is shorter. With all the snow and considering how cold it has been, it’ll be like five minutes,” Healy said. “We don’t want to leave them outside where they will get too cold.”
Dogs will be taken outside five to six times per day during snowy periods, Healy said.
She added that there is always at least one person staffing every position at the shelter. This includes days that the shelter isn’t open, as well as after hours, when the shelter is closed to the public.
Through the cooperation of staff members and volunteers, the humane society is able to keep the animals cared for, even on days that the shelter has been hit with more than 12 inches of snow.
“We try to do one-on-one time with the dogs; enrichment puzzles, we’re also working with trainers so they get that training exercise as well,” Healy said. “Other volunteers we have come in to walk the dogs, socialize the cats. That mostly varies on a day-to-day basis.”
Bark-chelorette candidate Firecracker poses for a photo with Alyssa Campoll at the Butler County Humane Society on Tuesday, Feb. 10. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Alyssa Campoll, left, and Kyra Skal, right, prepare food and treats in the kitchen at the Butler County Humane Society on Tuesday, Feb. 10. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Kongs are filled with food to be frozen and given to the dogs as an overnight snack at the Butler County Humane Society on Tuesday, Feb. 10. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Kyra Skal works with Steve-O at the Butler County Humane Society on Tuesday, Feb. 10. When temperatures are below freezing, dogs spend their time outside the kennel in common areas of the shelter. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Lennon Pierce sets out Kongs to be filled with food at the Butler County Humane Society on Tuesday, Feb. 10. The Kongs will be frozen and then given to the dogs as an overnight snack. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Kyra Skal works with Steve-O at the Butler County Humane Society on Tuesday, Feb. 10. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Cats at the Butler County Humane Society spend time in cat houses in the main lobby on Tuesday, Feb. 10. Thus gives them a chance to see the sights out the windows and acclimate to being around people. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Panda plays in the snow with Alyssa Campoll at the Butler County Humane Society on Tuesday, Feb. 10. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Kyra Skal works with Dice at the Butler County Humane Society Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Nova works on food puzzle at the Butler County Humane Society Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Kyra Skal works with Steve-O at the Butler County Humane Society Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Kyra Skal works with Steve-O at the Butler County Humane Society Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Kyra Skal works with Dice at the Butler County Humane Society Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Kyra Skal works with Dice at the Butler County Humane Society Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Kyra Skal works with Steve-O at the Butler County Humane Society Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Kyra Skal works with Dice at the Butler County Humane Society Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Kyra Skal works with Dice at the Butler County Humane Society Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Panda plays in the snow with Alyssa Campoll at the Butler County Humane Society Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Bark-chelorette candidate Binky poses for a photo at the Butler County Humane Society Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Kyra Skal works with Steve-O at the Butler County Humane Society Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Panda plays in the snow with Alyssa Campoll at the Butler County Humane Society Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Bark-chelorette candidate Nova poses for a photo at the Butler County Humane Society Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Bark-chelorette candidate Trinket poses for a photo at the Butler County Humane Society Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Bark-chelorette candidate Laika poses for a photo at the Butler County Humane Society Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Alyssa Campoll and Lennon Pierce work in the kitchen at the Butler County Humane Society Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Alyssa Campoll, left, and Kyra Skal, right, prep food and treats in the kitchen at the Butler County Humane Society Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Bark-chelorette candidate Firecracker poses for a photo with Alyssa Campoll at the Butler County Humane Society Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Kongs are filled with food to be frozen and given to the dogs as an overnight snack at the Butler County Humane Society Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Cats at the Butler County Humane Society spend time in cat houses in the main lobby Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. Thus gives them a chance to see the sights out the windows and acclimate to being around people. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Cats at the Butler County Humane Society spend time in cat houses in the main lobby Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. Thus gives them a chance to see the sights out the windows and acclimate to being around people. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Lennon Pierce sets out Kongs to be filled with food at the Butler County Humane Society Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. The Kongs will be frozen and then given to the dogs as an overnight snack. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Kyra Skal works with Dice at the Butler County Humane Society Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Nova works on food puzzle at the Butler County Humane Society Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Kyra Skal works with Steve-O at the Butler County Humane Society Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Kyra Skal works with Steve-O at the Butler County Humane Society Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Kyra Skal works with Dice at the Butler County Humane Society Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Kyra Skal works with Dice at the Butler County Humane Society Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Kyra Skal works with Steve-O at the Butler County Humane Society Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Kyra Skal works with Dice at the Butler County Humane Society Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Kyra Skal works with Dice at the Butler County Humane Society Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Panda plays in the snow with Alyssa Campoll at the Butler County Humane Society Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Bark-chelorette candidate Binky poses for a photo at the Butler County Humane Society Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Kyra Skal works with Steve-O at the Butler County Humane Society Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Panda plays in the snow with Alyssa Campoll at the Butler County Humane Society Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Bark-chelorette candidate Nova poses for a photo at the Butler County Humane Society Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Bark-chelorette candidate Trinket poses for a photo at the Butler County Humane Society Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Bark-chelorette candidate Laika poses for a photo at the Butler County Humane Society Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Alyssa Campoll and Lennon Pierce work in the kitchen at the Butler County Humane Society Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Alyssa Campoll, left, and Kyra Skal, right, prep food and treats in the kitchen at the Butler County Humane Society Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Bark-chelorette candidate Firecracker poses for a photo with Alyssa Campoll at the Butler County Humane Society Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Kongs are filled with food to be frozen and given to the dogs as an overnight snack at the Butler County Humane Society Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Cats at the Butler County Humane Society spend time in cat houses in the main lobby Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. Thus gives them a chance to see the sights out the windows and acclimate to being around people. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Cats at the Butler County Humane Society spend time in cat houses in the main lobby Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. Thus gives them a chance to see the sights out the windows and acclimate to being around people. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Lennon Pierce sets out Kongs to be filled with food at the Butler County Humane Society Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. The Kongs will be frozen and then given to the dogs as an overnight snack. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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