If it’s too cold for people to be outside, it’s probably too cold for their pets.
With the temperatures dropping below -20 C in recent days, officials at the Thunder Bay District Humane want to remind the public to keep their animals safe and keep in mind that it doesn’t take long for frostbite to set in.
Executive director Melanie Blanchette on Monday said the best course of action is to keep pets indoors when the weather is this cold.
“We see a lot of animals with frostbite and frostbite can settle in very quickly,” Blanchette said. “Animals are apt to lose anything from their ears to tails, legs or feet.”
Knowing dog owners must take their pets outside to relieve themselves, Blanchette said get them in and out as quickly as possible.
“Try to keep them indoors as much as you can and try to ensure they have the proper housing when they are outside.”
Jeremy Gardiner, an Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals agent, said under Ontario law, animals must be provided adequate shelter and if it’s not in place, pet owners could face charges and fines.
They could also be prohibited from owning animals.
Luckily this year the calls have been few and far between.
“A lot of our calls are dogs being left out with inadequate shelter in their backyard. In Ontario, under the standard of care, doghouses must be provided if a dog’s going to be left outside. The doghouse has to be insulated and it has to be off the ground,” Gardiner said.
Bedding, preferably straw and not a blanket, must also be provided.
“Yeah, they have fur, but they can get frostbite on their feet, frostbite on their ears and that kind of stuff. A smaller dog with less fur, provide it with a coat, or you can booties too,” Gardiner said.
Both Blanchette and Gardiner also cautioned pet owners to be wary of salt and encouraged people to wipe down their pets’ paws after outdoor walks to avoid irritation setting in.
