SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- The cold weather has claimed the life of a dog in the city of Syracuse, and its owner has been charged.

It actually happened December 27, on the 300 block of West Newell Street. Police say the dog was left outside and died overnight. The dog did have a shelter, but police say it was not adequate.

The low temperature that night was approximately 7 degrees.       

The animal cruelty investigator says the dog's owner, 48-year-old-Joretta Hudson-Jackson, is in a wheelchair and has serious medical issues. 

"She was upset that this had happened to her dog. She takes full responsibility. However, she is unable to take care of the dog herself and unable to have reliable people come and help her. She didn't have a steady person coming to help her," said Syracuse Police Department Animal Cruelty Officer Rebecca Thompson.

Hudson-Jackson has been charged with failure to provide appropriate shelter.