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Cold Weather Safety Tips -- Friday January 18th, 2019

Exposure to winter’s dry, cold air and chilly rain, sleet and snow can cause chapped paws and itchy, flaking skin, but these aren’t the only discomforts pets can suffer. Winter walks can become downright dangerous if chemicals from ice-melting agents are licked off of bare paws. To help prevent cold weather dangers from affecting your pet’s health, please heed the following advice from our experts:

  • Repeatedly coming out of the cold into the dry heat of your home can cause itchy, flaking skin.  Keep your home humidified and towel dry your pet as soon as he comes inside , paying special attention to his feet and in-between the toes. Remove any snow balls from between his foot pads.
  • Never shave your dog down to the skin in winter , as a longer coat will provide more warmth. If your dog is long-haired, simply trim him to minimize the clinging ice balls, salt crystals and de-icing chemicals that can dry his skin, and don’t neglect the hair between his toes. If your dog is short-haired, consider getting him a coat or sweater with a high collar or turtleneck with coverage from the base of the tail to the belly. For many dogs, this is regulation winter wear.
  • Bring a towel on long walks to clean off stinging, irritated paws. After each walk,  wash and dry your pet’s feet and stomach  to remove ice, salt and chemicals—and check for cracks in paw pads or redness between the toes.
  • Bathe your pets as little as possible during cold spells.  Washing too often can remove essential oils and increase the chance of developing dry, flaky skin. If your pooch must be bathed, ask your vet to recommend a moisturizing shampoo and/or rinse.
  • Massaging  petroleum jelly  or other paw protectants into paw pads before going outside can help protect from salt and chemical agents.  Booties  provide even more coverage and can also prevent sand and salt from getting lodged between bare toes and causing irritation. Use pet-friendly ice melts whenever possible.
  • Like coolant, antifreeze is a lethal poison for dogs and cats. Be sure to thoroughly clean up any spills from your vehicle, and consider using products that contain propylene glycol rather than ethylene glycol.
  • Pets burn extra energy by trying to stay warm in wintertime.  Feeding your pet a little bit more during the cold weather months  can provide much-needed calories, and making sure she has plenty of water to drink will help keep her well-hydrated and her skin less dry.
  • Make sure your companion animal has a warm place to sleep, off the floor and away from all drafts. A cozy dog or cat bed with a warm blanket or pillow is perfect.
  • Remember, if it’s too cold for you, it’s probably too cold for your pet, so keep your animals inside.  If left outdoors, pets can freeze, become disoriented, lost, stolen, injured or killed. In addition, don’t leave pets alone in a car during cold weather, as cars can act as refrigerators that hold in the cold and cause animals to freeze to death.

Reposted from the ASPCA



Meet Peoni -- Tuesday January 1st, 2019

MEET PEONIE

This sweetheart was rescued from Chicago Animal Control with her kittens. She was a great mom, taking care of her kittens and any other kitten that came by her. She loves to be wherever you are and enjoys sleeping in bed with you. She enjoys running and playing, but will always come back to check to see where you are. This sweet girl obviously had a home at one time and was probably dumped because she got pregnant. She is not going to let her new person get too far from her sight. Although she was a great mom, there will be no more kittens in this girl’s future.  Only a great new home!

Peonie is female, spayed, about 4 years old (as of January 2018), micro-chipped, up to date on vaccinations, currently in a foster home, and has s special "Mom Cat" adoption fee of $90.

If you are interested in meeting Peonie, please complete our an Adoption Application today! Filling out an application does not obligate you in any way.  Once your application has been approved, an ARF volunteer will contact you to arrange a meeting.