Take a paws and read this about your pet….

Even a real fur coat may not be enough to warm San Diego area pets during the cold winter nights. The animal experts at Helen Woodward Animal Center say that, with a few precautions, you can keep your pets healthy, safe, and warm.
HWAC spokesman John Van Zante says, “Too many people think that their pets are meant to be outdoors. They may have been true many years ago, but we’ve domesticated them and they rely on us for food, shelter, and warmth.”
Helen Woodward Animal Center believes that pets are part of the family. “Do you really want a family member to sleep outdoors when the temperature dips? Probably not. The best way to keep your critters warm is to make sure they’re indoors with you.”
For pets that do sleep outside, make sure that they have shelter and blankets that they can snuggle in. A safe heat source would also help to keep your pet warm.
Even indoor pets can have a hard time when it gets cold. Van Zante says, “If your pet is on the living room floor and it’s shivering from the cold, it needs your help. Most other animal supply stores offer beds, blankets, sweaters, and wraps for pets.”
Some Northern breeds with thicker coats will handle the cold weather better than pets with shorter coats. But, like us, they’ve all become accustomed to the weather in America’s Finest City and will appreciate some protection from the cold.
“Many families will take their pets along when they visit the snow in the higher elevations. While your dog may be running and having fun with you, it may be ignoring its cold paws. Be aware of this and give it breaks to warm up, or just leave it home.”
For more information about pet safety during the cold weather or to adopt a pet of your own during the Iams Home 4 the Holidays pet adoption drive visit Helen Woodward Animal Center at 6461 El Apajo Road in Rancho Santa Fe, call 858-756-4117, or log on to www.animalcenter.org.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 29, 2006 at 5:45 pm and is filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site.

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