Keeping Warm for the Winter

Story by: Courtney Boyd

As it gets colder outside pet owners are starting to bring their pets inside, limit outside time and building dog and cathouses. These things are vital to keeping pets warm.

According to Casey Krause, the adoption counselor at Shelby Humane Society, adoptions raise during the winter months. Families show up every day to look at and adopt pets from the shelter.

Surrendered puppy at Shelby Humane Society

With all of the animals going to new loving homes, it is crucial for new pet parents to understand the importance of keeping their fur babies warm.

Easy ways to keep warm for the winter can include building a dog or cathouse. You can also get a tupperware bin and cut a hole in it and fill it with hay. This will insulate the bin and keep your smaller animals warm. If building a house or using a tupperware bin is not an option, you can simply bring your pets inside.

When left outside animals can experience physical and psychological pain. Physical damages can range from shivering to frostbite and even death. If you are not careful and bring your pet inside when it gets too cold, your pet could die from being exposed to the cold elements for too long.

Psychological damages can be done to animals such as dogs. According to Krause, dogs are pack animals and when they are left outside while their family is inside it can damage them emotionally. They can become un-trusting and depressed.

Corgi puppy enjoying the nice weather

Remember, leaving your pet out in the cold can be detrimental to their health physically and emotionally. There are many ways to keep your pet warm during the winter.

Click here to read more about the Shelby Humane Society and what they do for their animals in the winter time. Currently they are accepting donated blankets to keep their kennels warm for the winter. Click here to donate a blanket and learn more about what you can do to help the Humane Society.