An urgent message from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) provided tips on how to keep your pets safe in the cold this winter.
While much of this is common sense, it's always good to be reminded of the best practices to help save a life.
Make sure to keep animals indoors. Freezing temperatures are an extra hardship for backyard dogs. Leaving them in a dog house is not sufficient.
Make sure animals have access to a water source. Animals become dehydrated when their water sources ice over, and they could die. Water should be kept inside a heavy nonmetal water bowl (tongues can freeze to metal) and the surface ice should be broken at least twice a day.
If you see animals left outside and cannot help them yourself, note their location and alert authorities immediately.
