ROCKVILLE, MD — With lows regularly dropping into the teens and 20s and a wind chill factor of below 10 degrees overnight Tuesday, Montgomery County authorities will be on the lookout for pets tied up and left unattended outside. Dog owners face a $500 fine for violating the anti-animal cruelty ordinance.

The Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security is issuing a Hypothermia Alert to go into effect at 7 p.m. A Hypothermia Alert is issued for the County when the actual or forecasted temperature, including wind chill, falls below 20 degrees creating a hazardous situation in which hypothermia and frostbite are likely. Montgomery County Animal Services Division said Tuesday that its officers will enforce a county regulation that says, "a person must not tether a dog under circumstances that endanger its health, safety, or well-being including: unattended tethering of the dog during a weather emergency."

Enforcement of the regulation goes into effect during periods of extreme cold, wind or heavy snow, which can all be harmful to dogs and other animals. Animal Services officials reminds residents to be particularly careful with all pets during the blasts of cold weather. The best advice during periods of extreme weather conditions is to bring pets indoors. Even animals that are used to living outdoors can be susceptible to the dangers of cold weather. Livestock animals should have a place to get out of the wind and dry bedding should be provided to protect them from frostbite.

Tips from veterinarians for cold weather care of a dog include: Provide a heated bed and shelter for dogs which cannot come indoors

Avoid letting your dog eat snow – keep fresh room temperature water available at all times

Keep food and water in a place where it will not freeze – preferably inside

A dog's ears and tail are susceptible to frostbite; check them after a dog has been outside for a long period of time

Like coolant, antifreeze is a lethal poison for dogs and cats. Be sure to thoroughly clean up any spills from your vehicle, and consider using products that contain propylene glycol rather than ethylene glycol

A dog licking the salt off the bottom of his paws can make him sick, so wipe his paws after he walks through a salted area

Never leave your dog or cat alone in a car during cold weather because a car can act as a refrigerator in the winter, holding in the cold and causing the animal to freeze to death. If you see an animal left outside that appears to be in danger, call the Animal Services Division immediately at 301-279-8000.

Alert Montgomery:

For timely severe weather and emergency notifications, go to alert.montgomerycountymd.gov and sign up for Alert Montgomery. Warnings and emergency updates will be sent directly to your cell phone (text), landline phone, computer (Twitter & Facebook) and/or email address. The service is free, but text charges may apply, so check with your cell phone carrier before selecting text alerts.

Hypothermia: Extreme cold is a dangerous situation that can bring on health emergencies in susceptible people, such as the very young, seniors, those without shelter or who are stranded, or who live in a home that is poorly insulated and/or without heat. Hypothermia can result from prolonged exposure to the cold. When exposed to cold temperatures, the body begins to lose heat faster than it can be produced. When the body's store of energy is used up, the result is hypothermia. Because hypothermia can affect the brain, a person may not be aware that it is happening, and not take appropriate steps to prevent damage.