Animal charity urging Ontarians to keep pets safe as temperatures drop
Posted January 15, 2022 12:43 am.
Last Updated January 15, 2022 12:44 am.
As the GTA sees an extreme cold warning in effect by Environment Canada, the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society is reminding you to keep animals safe as the temperatures drop, and is sharing some tips in how to do so.
Whether you are a pet owner or not, the charity is asking drivers to watch out for small animals, including cats, looking for warm shelter under vehicle hoods.
“Knock on the hood of your car or sound the horn before starting the engine,” it says in a release, “cats hiding under hoods can be injured or killed by the fan belt.”
If there is a car spill, it says antifreeze can be attractive to animals because it has a sweet taste — but is fatal if the little one ingests it.
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When your pets are outside, regardless of the thickness of their coat, the charity recommends you to modify outdoor activities by limiting the amount of time they are outdoors and to choose a walking route close to your home in case they need to go inside quickly.
Early signs of your dog being cold can include holding up their paws and shivering, it says, adding animals with shorter hair, and young or elderly pets, could benefit from an extra layer of warmth with a sweater or coat.
“Cars cool down quickly and don’t hold in body heat, which can lead to animals suffering from cold stress, hypothermia or frostbite,” it says.
After your pet has walked on a salted sidewalk or road, the charity recommends wiping their paws and underside off to keep them clean because the salt and chemicals used to melt snow and ice can irritate or burn their paws — and if ingested — can make animals sick.
MEDIA RELEASE
With temperatures forecasted to plummet, the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society wants to remind anyone with an animal to take extra precautions to keep them safe during extreme winter weather. Learn more: https://t.co/FLUsOVvpja
— The Ontario SPCA and Humane Society (@OntarioSPCA) January 10, 2022
