Kate & the snow

Here's my Kate on the walk in front of my place. I think over the last couple of days we've had about 8 to 9 inches. (Some was melted by "warm" temps.)

In the City of Poughkeepsie, we had no where near the amount southern Dutchess had. Two feet of snow and massive power outages down there.

I hope everyone stays safe and warm.

Winter pet care tips — Brrrrrrr!

As much as I hate to admit it, it's no longer summer.

That means cooler, and then colder, weather is on its way.

An article in the Norwich Bulletin outlines a veterinarian's top winter tips for pet owners.

They include:

• Make sure your outdoor pet has plenty of fresh water. And don't allow it to freeze.
• Wash pet's feet off after they come inside. Ice-melting products, when ingested, can cause stomach problems.
• Honk your car horn before starting your car. Cats can seek shelter under the hood.
• Antifreeze is lethal, even in small doses. Keep pets away from it.
  

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.