Local animal shelter gives cold weather tips for pets

TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) -Now that it’s gotten colder outside, taking care of your pets, especially outdoor animals is important.

“If you have an outdoor house for them, make sure you use straw. Don’t use blankets. Straw is good to use for both of them in the house and just make sure it’s not facing the north like for the north wind,” said Margaret Price of Helping Hands Humane Society.

Making sure they have plenty of provisions is important as well.

“Make sure they have fresh water every day that’s not frozen. Make sure you give them, both cats and dogs, you want to make sure you give them extra food during the winter months,” said Price.

It’s important to bundle your pets up in this weather, especially protecting their feet.

“When you take them for walks, just make sure their pads are not getting really cold. Watch when you put salt down that it’s dog-friendly and cat-friendly. If you’ve got pets, there’s some salt that’s pet-friendly. That’s probably what you want to use, and so that you’re they don’t burn their feet,” said Price.

Keeping pets in cars is not a good move this time of year.

“Just like a car can heat up really fast, a car can get really cold really fast too. So it’s just nice just to leave them at home, especially if the weather is really, really cold. You just don’t want to leave them in the car for very long periods,” said Price.

When there’s snow on the ground, you may want to clear a way for your pet.

“Your little dogs don’t like the snow a lot of times, and some of your breeds don’t like the snow. So if you can shovel in the grass, just shovel some snow and a patch to you get grass there and then that would be probably a lot easier to get them to go outside and go to the bathroom,” said Price.

Price also recommends that you take time to look under the hood of your car, to see if any cats are hiding underneath. She also says to keep an eye out for any sick or injured cats this time of year and to bring them to the shelter if need be.

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