WASHINGTON — Cold enough for you? If you shiver at the thought of stepping outside, animal welfare advocates say that’s a sign that it may be too cold for your dog or cat as well.
Matt Williams, a spokesman with the Washington Animal Rescue League, says pet owners should pay attention to warnings of severe weather — such as hypothermia alerts. Given this week’s freezing temperatures, Montgomery County residents are required to bring in their pets from the cold.
“We certainly want people to know they should bring their pets in in weather like this,” Williams says. “It’s dangerously cold.”
Nick Lippincott, a humane law enforcement officer, says there’s been a spike in the number of calls for pets left exposed to the harsh weather. Lippincott says a lot of his work in those cases consists of education.
“Some people are first time pet owners, some people have never been through a winter with their pet,” Lippincott says.
And, he continues, many people leave dogs outside in a lean-to or shelter without adequate protection, because that’s how it was always done in their family. “Some people just don’t know — because their father did it one way,” Lippincott says. “Their grandfather did it the same way, so they think it’s totally fine.”
But D.C. has a number of requirements for keeping animals outdoors. And Lippincott says just because a dog shelter may meet the basic requirements set out by law, it may still be problematic for the dog.
“If you can go outside in a t-shirt [and] be comfortable, your dog may be outside and be comfortable,” Lippincott says. “But if you go out there and you’re immediately trying to come back inside because it’s too cold for you, it’s most likely too cold for your dog as well.”
Williams agrees: “Anytime it’s dangerous for humans, it’s dangerous for pets.”
Both Williams and Lippincott point out different dog breeds handle the cold differently. A Labrador Retriever might be ready to leap into icy waters while a Chihuahua, may be left shivering in his tracks as soon as you open the front door.
Do those little sweaters and jackets help? Or are they solely for the amusement of their owners?
Williams says those little outfits may well be cute, but they also are helpful in keeping a cold pup from freezing up.
“They keep the body heat in,” Williams says.
Still, that doesn’t mean you can let the dog outside in a sweater and head off to work.
So what else do you need to be aware of in cold weather? Be mindful of de-icing agents on the ground and sidewalks where you live. Wipe those paws clean when your critter comes back in from the great outdoors.
“You don’t want them licking their paws” Williams says, “those chemicals aren’t good for them.”
Another reason to check your pet’s feet: those de-icing formulas can come in sharp pellets or shards, and the bottom of a dog or cat’s foot: the fleshy pad, can take a very long time to heal.
In weather like this, with wind chills taking the temperatures south of 0 degrees Fahrenheit, he may answer as many as 20 calls in a single day. And each one of those will be followed up on.
WTOP’s Kate Ryan contributed to this report.
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