Winter Safety tips for your Pets

With the 1st day of winter just around the corner, I thought it might be helpful to give a few tips to help keep your furry companions safe and happy during the coming cold months.

1. Know your dog’s limits! – Some dogs have more trouble dealing with the cold than others (elderly, sick, thin, short-coated, or the very young). If your dogs enjoy being outdoors, but their coat may not keep them warm enough, you might consider getting them a coat or a sweater to help keep them warm.

2. Check the hood! – During the winter it is not uncommon for outdoor cats to sleep in the wheel wells of cars to keep warm. Before starting your cat bang on your hood or honk your horn. Cats can be injured by the moving engine parts if you start your engine.

3. Wipe their paws! – If you take your dogs on walks during the winter, be sure to wipe their paws after it’s over. Dogs can pick up toxic chemicals such as, ice melts, anti-freeze, or other chemical de-icers. These can cause serious harm to your pets. Check their paws for signs of chemical damage such as rash, cracked skin, or bleeding pads.

4. Avoid the ice! – When walking your dog, avoid ice as much as you can. Especially frozen lakes and ponds, because the ice when/if it breaks can seriously injure your dog.

5. Leave them home! – Just like a dog being left alone in a hot car can be dangerous, so can being left in a cold car. Only take your pet with you when it is necessary to ensure their health and safety.

6. Be seen! – With daylight savings, it gets harder to walk your pet during the daylight hours. A good way to ensure both yourself and your pet are safe, by wearing light and reflective colors (clothing, collars, leashes, etc.).

7. Shelter! – We would like to think that most people would bring their pets indoors during the winter, but if you can’t bring them in all the time bringing them in during sub-zero temperatures is strongly recommended. If your dog does live outside, providing them with a draft free shelter, with plenty of bedding. It should be raised a few inches of space between the ground and bottom of the shelter. Also ensure that they have access to plenty of food and water in plastic not metal bowls.

Most important of all, is to be prepared. Winter can bring all sorts of extreme weather, so planning accordingly is extremely important. Not only for you but for your pets as well.

Santa Paws!! Thank You Everyone!!

We had our annual Santa Paws event on December 2nd at L & L Pets! We had such a great turn out. The Humane Society of the Flint Hills would like to thank everyone who came out and supported us at this event! Your generosity helps keep the Humane Society running and we wouldn't be able to do it with out you!

Here are just a few of the wonderful furry friends whose families brought them down to have their pictures taken!!

Letter from the Executive Director!! #2

Good Morning, Afternoon, or Evening!! (depending on when you are reading this)

I hope all of the locals are enjoying the rain we have been getting. It has been an extremely busy past couple weeks. We had a great time out at Water's True Value with our dog adoption event! Maddie and McKenzie, our two sweet little mother and daughter duo, got adopted!! Everyone is extremely happy for them and their new family and we are even happier that they got to go together!

We had a great turn out for our 2nd to last Bow Wow Basics Dog Obedience class. We had quite a few puppies and a couple of adult dogs. The class started on the 7th and will continue until the 21st. We have another that will start on September 11th, it will be held at Hammond Park between 6pm and 7pm in the Shelter House. These classes give you a good basis for starting to train your puppy or adult dog. Sit, stay, down, heel, etc. Our instructor is amazing with dogs. If you want to sign up for the classes, please get in contact with me and reserve your space today!

We are still looking for new members for our Board of Directors. So if you are looking to give back to the community and the animals who live here. This is a great way to do it! We fundraise, educate, and give back to the community and its animals. We would love to have you apply and join!

Coming up we have an exciting event! September 8th we will be participating in Coldwell Bankers 'Home for your Pet'. The Humane Society of the Flint Hills, Friends of the Emporia Animal Shelter, and Emporia Arts Council will be downtown with Coldwell Banker, 608 Commercial St. We will be raising money to cover operating costs of the shelter as well as helping FEAS raise money to cover the medical costs for the shelter. EAC will be doing face painting as a puppy or kitten for a donation that will all go towards the shelter. Coldwell Banker will also be doing a donation drive, and has copies of our shelters wish list. As time gets closer I will share more information, but I really hope to see you all down at the Great American Market.

I would be remiss to not mention that the Emporia Animal Shelter is open Saturday - Wednesday 11am -3pm. They are closed on Thursday and Friday. They have so many wonderful cats and dogs who are looking for their forever home.

Remember Adopt! Don't Shop!

Caitlin Flood
Executive Director
Humane Society of the Flint Hills