10/29/2024
‼️ FREEZE WARNING ‼️
There is a cold front sweeping across our state this week & many parts will drop below freezing Wednesday night! Please bring your pets inside where they belong. It is our responsibility to ensure our animals are safe & comfortable. & they want nothing more than to be with you ❤
If you have outdoor dogs, please follow these guidelines in an effort to keep them safe in the freezing temperatures:
~ PROVIDE SHELTER - this consists of a doghouse with 4 sides, a roof, a floor & a door for them to go in & out of. Make sure the doghouse is not too big, yet roomy enough for them to stand up & turn around in. Precious body heat is lost when a house is too large for the dog it is sheltering. Face the door of the doghouse away from the wind & elevate it up off of the ground using a pallet or something similar. Use a heavy blanket, tarps, etc to cover it.
~ SHELTER IS NOT ENOUGH! There must be some sort of insulation. Do not use blankets, towels or hay inside of the doghouse - USE STRAW ONLY! Straw acts as a heat insulator & often times, it is the difference between life & death of an outdoor animal. Straw can be purchased at any feed store for around $6/bale & many NM shelters offer FREE STRAW to their communities!
~ Even in the coldest of temperatures all animals require access to POTABLE WATER to survive & they dehydrate easily as they lose body heat! Ensure your dog has access to fresh (not frozen!) water at all times.
~ Outdoor dogs burn up EXTRA CALORIES trying to stay warm, so be sure you are feeding enough! Its always a good idea to increase the amount of their breakfast & dinner, if you are feeding an outdoor dog in the winter!
🐾🐾🐾 If you see an outdoor dog without the proper provisions, please notify your local animal control department or shelter immediately. Not only is it cruel & heartless, but leaving your dog outside to freeze is also ILLEGAL & there are concerned eyes everywhere! So PLEASE....just do the right thing & take care of your animals.