The Humane Society of Delaware County is one again giving animals a voice to talk about proper winter weather pet care.

As they did last year, volunteers this weekend will live outside without shelter for up to 10 hours - 8 p.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Saturday - in bone-chilling darkness.

All they'll have is the clothes on their backs, mounds of insulating hay and some snacks for their arctic task.

"Each winter, thousands of animals in the central Ohio region are kept outside without the proper shelter. Many of these dogs, cats and horses will perish from the cold; others will suffer from severe skin damage," the branch's director, Wade Beane, reminds us. "Freeze Out 2010 will illustrate the hazardous effects and dangers that severe weather has on animals. In addition to raising awareness, HSDC has set a fund-raising goal of $10,000 to directly benefit animals needing proper care or shelter."

Passerbys will be able to stop by and see examples of easy-to-assemble winter shelters, as well as meet volunteers taking drive-up donations and sharing information on how to properly care for outdoor animals during frigid winter months.

Of course the event culminates at 11 p.m., when demonstrators strip down to the bare necessities for the "30 Minutes Extreme." (The picture makes me cold just looking at it...more power to 'em!)

As do our local humane societies, the one in Delaware County survives entirely on donations. Funds toward the cause - dog houses and supplies and services for urgent cases of neglect - can be mailed to Humane Society of Delaware County, 4920 State Route 37 East, Delaware, Ohio, 43015.

The event promotes awareness as much as it hopes to fund-raise, though. To help animals here at home, find cold weather care tips here by scrolling down.

-- Sandra M. Klepach, SKlepach@News-Herald.com