If it's too cold for YOU to be venturing outside without being all bundled up, chances are, it's too cold for your pet.
You would think knowing this would be a simple matter of common sense, or maybe it's that some people just don't care, but when it's 30 below, would YOU want to be shivering outside without proper shelter or care? I'm guessing not.
While they may come equipped with fur, domestic pets are NOT suited to be spending frigid hours on end outside without proper care. With that said, I still see dishevelled cats scurrying about looking for somewhere warm to hide, pictures of dogs shaking, pleading to come inside, story upon story of pets being found frozen, no longer able to cope. And even if they do manage to survive, what kind of life are they living?
Not to preach, but seriously, shouldn't we all know better? If you can't look after a pet properly maybe you should consider not getting one.
Luckily though, there are many caring and responsible people out there.
In addition to the services provided by the Humane Society, we're fortunate in this little corner of the province to have a great group called GAAR or Guardian Angel Animal Rescue, whose members have made it their volunteer mission to protect ill fated pets and ensure they have the quality of lives the deserve. Sad, but true, this is a very busy group of people.
GAAR was created a number of years ago as a shelter in Melville. Unfortunately due to the cost of renting a building to house the animals, plus the cost of utilities it was too much money to keep running as a shelter. Today, volunteers do everything from their homes - from fostering stray, abandoned, neglected, unwanted, and abused animals, to finding caring homes. This is an admirable group of people to say the least.
If we don't take it upon ourselves to do the right thing, then who will?
There's a lot of winter left so if your pet is among the many unfortunate sitting out on the cold side of the window, begging to come in, why not have a heart and let him in?
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead
