Cold Weather and Our Furry Friends

Leaving Pets Outdoors:

* If you know anyone who keeps pets outdoors, persuade them to bring them inside. Low temperatures, winds and precipitation can lead to illness and death. In addition, water bowls freeze in cold weather.

* Please keep cats inside. Felines who spend time outside can freeze, or get lost or injured.

* Dog houses and the law: Local laws typically require that if dogs are kept outdoors, the owner must supply the dog with "proper" shelter from the weather, which includes a dog house big enough to stand up in and to permit posture positions that allow the dog to stretch out and stand up, but must not be oversized, since the dog needs to retain body heat; a wind flap on the dog house door; nonporous bedding such as straw; and, access to fresh, unfrozen water. Remember, dogs are domesticated animals who should live indoors with their people. Living outside in a dog house is a sad life, especially in cold, hot and wet weather.

* For free information to use to educate pet owners and others who keep animals in cold or neglectful conditions, see the Related Links below.

Related Links:

First Aid Techniques and First Aid Kit Supplies:
http://www.paw-rescue.org/PAW/PETTIPS/DogTip_FirstAid.php

If you know of a companion animal kept outdoors or in other inhumane conditions:
http://www.paw-rescue.org/PAW/PETTIPS/DogTip_HelpingAbusedAnimals.php

Backyard Dog, Outdoor Dog: Facts, Guidance, Solutions
http://www.paw-rescue.org/PAW/PETTIPS/DogTip_BackyardDogs.php

Robin's Dog Tips:
For more dog tips and pet tips, see http://www.paw-rescue.org/PAW/dog_tips.html

Note: Some tips courtesy of Brenda Beck, President of Pets and Animals in Distress in Fort Lauderdale; The Healthy Animal Update newsletter; and other sources.

This is the final post dealing with cold weather and our pets. I hope you learned something from these posts - I know I did! Stay warm ....