Winter safety tips

With the subfreezing temps we've been having lately, you are taking care of your pets, right?

This kind of weather is pretty dangerous for pets who are outdoors.

An article by Tony Lascari from the Midland Daily News in Michigan — where it's been colder than longer than around here — points out some ways to make things better for your dogs and cats.

Outside dogs should be kept in shelters, preferably with a flap over the door and straw spread across the floor, said Sue Johnson, a veterinarian at Midland Animal Clinic.

Dan Allen, Midland County Animal Control's kennel officer, said the straw acts as insulation.

"If you put a carpet square in for a dog, when they go in the kennel they have snow on their legs and the snow melts from the body heat," he said. It then soaks into the carpet and can freeze, causing it to be even colder.

"The straw doesn't do that," Allen said. "The water goes through and it maintains its insulation value."

The article also talks about how indoor dogs are more susceptible to frostbite and shouldn't be outside for more than 10 minutes if the windchill is severe.

One thing I do before I take Kate out is have damp paper towels ready for when we come back in. In my apartment complex, they put down so much salt that the soles of my shoes never touch concrete during the winter. And we know what salt does to dog paws.