Heart of the Catskills Humane Society offers winter pet tips and offers free straw for outdoor doghouses and cat shelters to keep pets warm and safe during cold months ahead...

The Heart of the Catskills Humane Society (HCHS) urges pet owners to start preparing now for the cold winter ahead. Despite their “fur” coats, domesticated animals like cats and dogs depend on their human companions for protection from the cold weather.

HCHS offers Delaware County residents free straw bedding for their pets and the following suggestions to make sure pets stay warm and safe this winter:

Although we strongly recommend that all dogs and cats be kept indoors, dogs and catskept outdoors for any lengthof time should have warm, dry, draft-free houses. In order to be effective, the “winterized” house should be a few inches off the ground to preventdampness. The outside should be waterproof and draft free with the entrance being sheltered from the wind with a flap door. The inside should be just large enough that the dog or cat can lie down and have a little head room when sitting (but no larger than that because the animal’s body heat will help to keep the house warm). The inside of thehouse should have plenty of bedding consisting of very thick-layered straw or woodchips; not blankets or carpet that get wet and freeze. When temperatures or wind chills get below zero, bring your pet indoors.. Even a garage is more protection than an outdoor doghouse or cat shelter.

Pets that spend a lot of time outdoors need more food in the winter. Dogs and cats that are outside for even a few hours each day during the cold months need up to 50% more food than during the summer. The increase in food is necessary to generate enough heat for the body to stay warm. Watch your pet’s water dish to make sure water hasn’t frozen. Check it several times a day to see that the water doesn’t freeze over. You may want to invest in a heated water dish so the water cannot freeze. Use plastic bowls when the temperatures fall below freezing. Metal dishes should never be used; pets’ tongues can freeze to them in extreme cold.

Antifreeze, even in very tiny doses, is a lethal poison for dogs and cats. Because of its sweet taste, animals are attracted to it. Be sure to thoroughly clean-up any spills from your vehicle or use animal-friendly products that contain propylene glycol rather than the traditional products containing ethylene glycol. Call your veterinarian immediately if you suspect your animal has ingested any amount of this toxic substance.

Free-roaming outdoor cats often seek shelter from the cold in warm car engines, and every winter many are injured or killed by fan belts. Before starting your car, especially if the engine is still warm, bang on the hood or tap the horn to scare away any cats or small animals that may have crawled underneath.

The Heart of the Catskills Humane Society in Delhi offers free straw to anyone requesting it for outdoor doghouses and cat shelters this winter. Free straw will also be available for pickup at the Humane Society on Route 10 in Delhi. For more information or to request a delivery of free straw, call (607) 746-3080.