This time of year makes me think of the many pets who live outdoors or are indoor/outdoor pets, and may face some cold, if not frigid weather. Some freeze to death. It’s hard to fathom, but it’s true. Pets need shelter.
I ran across this photo on Facebook. It may seem like a small contribution, but to a small animal out in the cold, this shelter can make a difference between surviving or not. Three containers are nestled inside each other, with ample hay tucked in as bedding in the top container. The middle container is a Styrofoam ice chest. A hole is cut out of all three so the animal can enter and exit safely, and the two lids from the plastic containers are secured to keep the elements out with a layer of cardboard placed between the two secured lids for added insulation.
Those of us who live in a tropical climate occasionally face inclement weather, even freezes, so it’s important that our pets are also protected and sheltered. If pets were kept indoors like family members, that would solve all of this, wouldn’t it?
Here’s a sweet tropical Dobermann who reacts to the slight change in weather from the 80s to the 70s. Dobies have very short fur, and do well with jackets, blankets, pajamas when the temperatures get chilly.
And snuggling under the covers makes for a cozy Dobie, too.
By Helen Verte
Certified Pet Dog Trainer-Knowledge Assessed, Certified Trick Dog Instructor
