Cold weather dangerous for outdoor pets

HILLSDALE, Ind. (WTHI) - Pat Tryon reads an email from a concerned resident.

The Parke Vermillion County Humane Society gets e-mails like this often, someone who noticed their neighbor's pets stuck outside in the cold.

As the temperature drops, phone calls and emails come into shelters across the Wabash Valley, on average, about three a day.

"These last few days, when you're starting to notice the temperatures is well below freezing, where everything freezes up, yea it becomes a problem," Parke Vermillion Humane Society's Pat Tryon said.

Some of you expressed similar concern on our WTHI Facebook page.

Tryon says it doesn't take long for your animal's situation to take a turn for the worst.

"I think it's easy when it's really cold out and you're inside and it's warm and you're thinking I don't want to go out today, that's easy to do. But you gotta remember that little animal that you have, your pet, even though he has fur, he's still alive, and he can get way too cold, wet, and they can die from exposure," Tryon said.

Even though many outdoor animals have a healthy coat of fur, once it gets wet, it's difficult for them to stay warm.

That's why the humane society says the most ideal situation is to keep your pet inside.

"If they do live outdoors, make sure that they do have a good warm place to stay, a dog house preferably with lots of straw in it. You need to check their water more frequently because obviously, it's going to freeze in this weather, and they need to drink and stay hydrated," she said.

She also says you should feed them more often, and check on them frequently.

"Take care of your animal. If you can't afford them, don't be afraid to ask for help."

It's an important request from humane societies across the Wabash Valley, in hopes of helping more animals stay warm and healthy.

For more information about keeping your animal safe and about the Parke Vermillion County Humane Society, click on this link .

Or call (765) 492-3540.