Keep pets protected when outdoors
It’s not just children who must be warmly dressed for the winter.
The family pets need to be protected from frigid conditions as well.
And people who added a dog or cat over Christmas should be particularly careful, animal control officials point out.
Unless your dog is a St. Bernard or a Husky, Lethbridge Animal Shelter officer Patrick Yellow Wing says it should not be left to stay outside in this weather.
Even the hardiest breeds, he adds, need an insulated, door-equipped dog house, he points out — with the food they need to keep warm.
Smaller dogs should only spend short periods outside, he says, and that’s true for cats as well.
“They’re all affected by the cold temperatures.”
Family pets are particularly vulnerable when new snow arrives, Yellow Wing says. That’s because they rely on their sense of smell to help guide them home — difficult if not impossible when snow covers their markings.
Newly arrived pets need special attention, if they’re in new territory. If they’re disoriented or scared and run away — bolt as they get out of a car, perhaps — they can become quickly lost.
But even longtime members of the family need special attention in cold weather, he says. Their paws should be wiped when they come back into the house, to remove salt and other ice-melting chemicals that can irritate their paws.
Pet owners should look for pet-safe melting products, he suggests. And they must remember that some winter-use products like vehicle antifreeze can be fatal to animals.
For pets that will accept them, Yellow Wing says winter sweaters or coats designed for pets are particularly useful for short-haired breeds.
Even chihuahuas can enjoy a short time outside if properly dressed, he says. Dachchunds may like jumping around as well.
Animal “booties” can help protect the paws, although they might cause some pets to stumble.
Cats present other concerns, whether they’re part of your family or a neighbour’s. Yellow Wing says more often than drivers expect, cats may huddle under a vehicle for shelter — or crawl into its engine compartment for warmth. The results can be deadly. Yellow Wing urges drivers to tap on their vehicle’s hood — or the horn — before starting the engine. If in doubt, open the hood.
Feral cats are an ongoing issue as well, and Yellow Wing says they may find an open garage to shelter from the cold.
“All animals will be trying to find shelter,” as winter sets in.
That’s why it’s important to contact the shelter when a pet goes missing — and when anyone sees one that apparently can’t find its home.
Yellow Wing offers one more caution: Parked vehicles can cool down rapidly in this weather. Neither pets nor children should be left inside a parked car.
“Leave them at home,” where they’ll be safe and warm.
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