Please use your considerable public influence to advocate for the safety and well-being of animals during the current cold snap.  No animals in our area (be they pets or livestock) are acclimated to the intense cold that we are or will be experiencing over the next few days.

Of particular concern for outdoor animals is an adequate supply of fresh drinking water.  They, of course, cannot drink water that’s frozen and outdoor water supplies will freeze quickly; therefore, replenishing drinking water supplies several times a day is essential.

All outdoor pets should be brought inside when the temperature dips below freezing for several hours.  Those that cannot be brought inside should have an enclosed shelter area or house equipped with plenty of warm bedding.  A deep supply of fresh dry wheat straw is very good bedding.  They should also be given more than the usual amount of nutritious food to help them generate body heat.

Shelter, bedding and extra food is also essential for large animals such as cows, horses and goats as well as other animals.

The intense cold puts small, short-haired, sickly and newborn animals in great peril.  Those animals can actually die a horrible death as a result of inadequate care during a day or night of sub-freezing temperatures.

Some people may believe that domestic animals have some sort of magic way to survive under adverse conditions but please know that none in our area are equipped to handle the harsh coldness that we face right now.  Please remember that we are the only ones our animals have to depend upon for their protection.  Please do what you can in that regard.

Sincerely,