The Humane Society of Central Oregon would like to offer pet safety tips for the high winds hitting our area now.
Take precautions to keep companion animals safe and secure. Wind gusts and flying objects can injure or frighten pets. Dogs and cats may run away or get disoriented when fences blow down. Objects fall or fly in the wind, and the noise of a big gust may frighten pets.
The Humane Society of Central Oregon offers these preventative tips during stormy, cold weather:
- Bring your pet inside during the storm
- Take your dog out on a leash to ensure they are safe and secure.
- Check all fencing and lock all gates.
- Dogs and cats can get frost bitten ears, nose, and feet if left outside.
- If your pet must be kept outside:
–Provide a dry, elevated dog house with clean dry bedding and a flap over the opening to keep drafts out. A doghouse should allow your dog to comfortably sit and lay down but small enough to hold in its body heat.
–Make sure the water bowl does not freeze. Heated water bowls are available.
-Outdoor pets need more calories to produce body heat.
- Make sure a cat has not crawled under your car seeking shelter and warmth near the engine. Tap on the hood before starting the engine.
- Large Animals need care too:
-Provide a windbreak and/or shelter for horses and livestock to block wind and rain
-Make sure horses and other livestock have clean, dry bedding.
If your pet becomes lost or you have found a pet, call the Humane Society of Central Oregon at 541 382-3537 or your local animal shelter to report it. The Humane Society wants to safely and quickly reunite lost animals. For more information, call 541 382-3537 or visit hsco.org to view our strays page.