Protecting your pooches in the cold

Our furry friends are in need this time of year during extreme cold temperatures. It is also National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week here in our city. With this cold snap, Community Animal Services in Lethbridge is currently operating dangerously close to capacity with dogs and cats at the moment.

Skylar Plourde, the director of the organization, says there are some tips you can implement to keep your pooches safe and warm when you take them out into the frigid temperatures.

“Depending on the breed, they’re all going to have different abilities to withstand different weather and climate. The base is that they all need to be provided with access to shelter and suitable and usable food and water. If you are walking with the dog and you return home, it is a good idea to check the paws for ice build up between the feet. People do use different types of deicer and some of them are not pet friendly, so wiping it with a towel is helpful to keep the dog protected from those kind of things.”

Plourde added that making sure your pets have proper registration and microchipping pets will reduce their time in shelters. He says adoption is also being encouraged.