With the extremely cold temperatures forecasted for the weekend. Escambia County urges residents to take safety precautions for protecting their pets from the elements.
Below are a few tips from Escambia County Animal Services Director John Robinson:
- If your pet can not be brought inside, provide a clean, dry shelter for your outdoor pets.
- Make sure to provide plenty of fresh, clean water. Animals can easily become dehydrated during cold weather.
- Never leave a pet in a vehicle during extreme cold. If you leave it running they can become subjected to carbon monoxide poisoning. While in a non-running vehicle the temperature drops rapidly and the animal can succumb to issues with the cold.
- In the rare event of ice or snow in our area, make sure that you clean the pads of your pet’s feet after going out to remove ice or any type of ice melting products that may have gotten on them.
- Make sure to store anti-freeze in a safe place and clean up any spills. Anti-freeze has a sweet smell and taste that attracts pets but is highly toxic.
To stay in the know about the Escambia County Animal Shelter follow @MyEscambiaPets on Twitter. Animal Shelter hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 12 – 6 p.m. A wish list of donations for the shelter can be found at http://myescambia.com/community/animal-services.
