Yup: It’s winter in Austin. And if you think you’re cold, imagine how your chihuahua feels!
These tips, sent by the Austin Humane Society, are fairly standard, but when the mercury threatens to dip as low as is forecast, it’s worth repeating them:
1.) Bring your animals inside. Duh.
2.) When taking them dogs out for a walk, provide a sweater or jacket.
3.) If there are feral cats in your neighborhood, try to provide a shelter. If you can’t, remember that they will often seek heat inside the engine compartment of your car. If they do, you run the risk of squashing them – and really messing up your car – when you start it. Use this one tip to avoid that very sad and messy situation: Bang loudly on the hood and/or wheel well of your car before getting in and starting it up. That should take care of things.
On another, but related note, both the AHS and the Town Lake Animal Shelter are seeking donations of dog sweaters and coats. AHS is particularly in need of large size coats and sweaters; TLAC says they are in special need of smaller sized sweaters and coats for dogs.
This article appears in January 28 • 2011.