While they have furry coats, pets are not immune to the cold-weather elements. Irving Residents are encouraged to take steps to make sure their pets are safe during the winter storm this week.
Pets who are outdoors are in extreme danger during freezing weather. They can freeze, become disoriented and lost, get injured and even die from being outdoors in extremely cold weather.
Helpful Reminders
- Whenever possible, pets should be kept indoors during inclement weather, especially at night.
- Cats that are outside can sometimes seek shelter under cars. People should loudly bang on their car hood before starting the vehicle’s engine to give the cats a chance to escape.
- If pets cannot be kept indoors, city ordinance requires that owners give animals adequate shelter.
- A shelter is defined as a structure that is fully enclosed on three sides, have a solid, attached roof with no gaps and have a solid, attached floor. The fourth side can have an entrance to the shelter. The entrance should be flexible to allow for the animal’s entry and exit, but be sturdy enough to block wind, rain, hail, sleet, snow and subfreezing temperatures.
- Straw or hay can be used as bedding as it does not retain moisture and pets will stay dry and warm.
- Make sure fresh, unfrozen water is always available to the pet.
