Brrr! Frigid Weather is Back
As cold weather settles in across much of the country, Best Friends Animal Society, a leading national animal welfare organization working to end the killing of dogs and cats in America’s shelters and take the country no-kill*, is reminding pet owners that freezing temperature can be dangerous to furry family members.
To help keep pets warm, safe and comfortable all season long, Best Friends is sharing cold weather safety tips, including:
When the Temperature Drops, Danger Rises: When the temperature drops below 20°F, pets can quickly develop hypothermia or frostbite. Keep them indoors as much as possible and limit outdoor time to quick walks and bathroom breaks.
Sweater Weather: Ears, paws and tails are most at risk in the cold. Small, short-haired or senior dogs may need a sweater or coat to help them stay warm. If your dog starts whining, lifting their paws or slowing down on walks, that's your cue to head indoors.
Protect Those Paws: Salt and ice-melt chemicals can irritate paw pads, and antifreeze is extremely toxic to pets. Always use pet-safe ice melt, wipe paws with a damp towel after walks, and consider booties for added protection.
Leash Up in the Snow: Snow and ice can make familiar routes unrecognizable, and pets can easily lose their scent and become disoriented. Keep dogs leashed and double check that their microchip and ID tags are current, just in case!
Check Your Engine: Community cats often seek warmth by curling up under car hoods or near engines. Tap the hood, look underneath, or give a honk before starting your car to make sure no cats are hiding.
Trade the winter chill for a warm companion. Adopting a pet not only brings love home, but according to Best Friends’ data, if just six percent of the seven million people who will acquire a pet this year chose to adopt instead of purchase, we could end the killing of cats and dogs in America’s shelters. That’s one powerful way to spread warmth. To find adoptable pets near you, or learn more about how you can help, visit bestfriends.org
*No-kill is defined by a 90% save rate for animals entering a shelter and is a meaningful and common-sense benchmark for measuring lifesaving progress. Typically, the number of pets who are suffering from irreparable medical or behavioral issues that compromise their quality of life and prevent them from being rehomed is not more than 10% of all dogs and cats entering shelters. For any community to be no-kill, all stakeholders in that community must work together to achieve and sustain that common goal while prioritizing community safety and good quality of life for pets as guiding no-kill principles. This means cooperation among animal shelters, animal rescue groups, government agencies, community members and other stakeholders, all committed to best practices and protocols.