January 1, 2018
KEEP PETS SAFE FROM FRIGID CONDITIONS
Bring pets in the house!
Cold temperatures have hit Kentucky, and below zero conditions are not just too extreme for humans.
It’s too cold outside for pets, too.
“Bring them in the house,” said Judy Drake, co-owner of Sam Russell’s Pet Provisions in Hardin Co.
When temperatures are in the teens and lower, it’s too cold for pets to be outside for long periods of time, Drake said.
Heated kennels are better but indoors where it’s warm is always best, she said.
Some animals such a huskies, Alaskan malamutes and great Pyrenees that are herding and working dogs can stay out longer because they are moving, which keeps them warmer, she said. Despite their natural fur coats, most pets are not active enough to stay outside for long stretches and certainly not overnight, Drake said.
For pets who are used to being outside or might be more feral, it’s often difficult to coax them indoors. Drake suggests purchasing heated water bowls and heated pads to place in a sheltered area such as a garage that can be warm or covered away from the elements. Don’t use a regular heating pad intended for use in a house. There are special pet heating pads that get warmer as an animal lays on it, she said.
At Sam Russell’s, employees don’t take the dogs out to play for long when it’s frigid outside, she said. They stay outside 15 to 20 minutes maximum for time to run and go to the bathroom. This is true for dogs accustomed to the cold such as huskies that stay at the facility.
“Find a place to bring your animals in,” Drake said.
By Becca Owsley
News Enterprise