January 27, 2009

Today’s Pam’s Pal is Molly, an adorable German shepherd/Siberian husky mix available at Animal Humane Society’s (AHS) Golden Valley facility.  

Molly came to AHS from another animal welfare organization needing assistance finding her a home. At four years old, she’s a happy-go-lucky girl who likes to run and play whenever the opportunity is provided. In her antics, she tends to chase after small animals, so it’s recommended she go to a home without them. If you can meet that one requirement, she can give you years of endless fun and affection.

As you can see, Molly has a thick coat that will help protect her from the subzero temps we’ve had this winter. But it’s still important to remember temperatures below freezing along with wind chill can prove deadly for our domesticated pets. “If it is too cold to send your children outside to play, it is too cold for your pets,” says Cindy Johnson, Animal Humane Society director of customer service.

Here is a checklist to help keep your pets safe during the cold winter months:

Tips for indoor pets:                                                                                                                        

• During severe weather, dogs should be let out only to relieve themselves.
• Remove ice, salt and caked mud from your pet’s paws and coat immediately.
• Before walks, put Vaseline or doggie shoes on your dogs’ paws to protect him/her from sidewalk salt and chemicals. Wipe the Vaseline off when your dog comes back inside.
• Indoor exercise playgroups such as Yappy Hour at AHS are a great option.

Tips for outdoor pets:

• Outdoor pets typically need more food in cold weather because they must burn more calories to keep warm.
• They MUST have a shelter that protects them from wind and water. The shelter should be elevated so that moisture can’t collect inside and large enough for your pet to stand up and turn around, yet small enough to retain body heat.
• Keep an eye out for and clean up all antifreeze spills; even one lick of the sweet-tasting fluid can be fatal to an animal.
• If your dog is kept outside due to behavioral issues, it is a perfect time to begin training classes. AHS offers many classes at its various locations.

Signs of hypothermia include:

• Weak pulse, dilated pupils, decreased heart rate, extreme shivering, pale or blue mucous membranes, body temperature below 95 degrees, stupor and unconsciousness. Consequences of extreme hypothermia may include neurological problems including coma, heart problems and kidney failure.