Winter weather tips for your pets

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has some suggestions on how to keep your companion animals safe and healthy during the winter.

A complete list can be found here.

Among the hints are:

• Keep your kitty inside. Outside, cats can freeze, become lost or be stolen, injured or killed.

• Never let your dog off the leash in snow or on ice, especially during a snowstorm. They can lose their scent and easily become lost.

• Wipe off your dog's legs and stomach when she comes in out of the sleet, snow or ice. Your dog can ingest salt, antifreeze or other dangerous chemicals while licking its paws, and the paw pads can also bleed from snow or encrusted ice.