Humane society warns pet owners about cold weather

With the recent cold snap on the Island comes a warning from the PEI Humane Society to keep pets protected from the elements.

Marla Somersall,the executive director of the Humane Society, saidthe cold weather and the road salt can be especially tough on furry friends.

"We strongly encourage people to keeptheir pets indoors,"Somersallsaid. "If it's cold for you, it's cold for them."

When it comes toletting animals, such as dogs, outside, she saidyou have to be conscious of their natural coats, their health and how cold it is. Pets should be supervised when they're outside and not tethered outside overnight.

Somersallrecommends owners buy special winter clothing to shield their pets from the wind.

"If you have an animal that goes out and they seemto shiver or they're cold or if you know thatthey don't have a big coat of their own then you definitely need to give them something warm to put on," she said.

Somersallalso says pets should never be left in vehicles for any reason during the winter. She encourages people tocall the humane society if they see a stray animalor a pet they think has been tethered outside for too long.

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