How to Keep Your Pets Safe in Freezing Cold Winter Weather

Photo Courtesy Watertown Animal Control

WILMINGTON, MA - This weekend is coming with record-breaking cold and wind chills with advisories to stay indoors and this goes for your pets, too.

The National Weather Service has issued a Wind Chill Warning in effect from 4 p.m. Saturday until noon on Sunday. Life threatening wind chills and near record cold air temperatures are expected during this time.

If you have a pet it’s important to keep them safe, as well with these freezing cold temperatures setting in over the next few days.

The Animal Rescue League of Boston is urging pet owners to keep their pets inside because although they have fur, that doesn’t make them immune to the dangerously cold temperatures. Even rabbits, cats, and dogs that typically live outdoors need extra assistance keeping warm as temperatures drop to alarming lows.

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency sending the same message and urging residents to take precautions with their pets during this period of extreme cold weather and stay indoors. Prolonged exposure to the cold can lead to serious health issues including frostbite and hypothermia for you and your four-legged friends.

The Animal Rescue League offers these six steps to keep animals safe during this cold weather warning:

• If possible, bring pets or feral cats that you’re familiar with indoors to a garage or basement.

• Bundle up your pup in a jacket or sweater during their walk, especially if their coat is made of hair (vs. fur). They even have a quiz to determine if your pet needs a sweater.

• Before you start your engine, look under and pound on your vehicle’s hood to wake a napping cat trying to keep warm.

• Never leave your pet alone inside your vehicle, which won’t stay warm for long after your engine has turned off.

• Keep a winter pet emergency kit handy. Learn how to make your own simple and inexpensive DIY winter pet emergency kit.

• If your pet MUST remain outdoors, make sure that are in a winter-friendly shelter that has the following components: three-sided enclosure, stands off the ground, contains generous amounts of bedding, and plenty of (un-frozen!) drinking water. If possible, also make sure that the entrance faces away from heavy winds.