SOUTH ABINGTON TOWNSHIP, PA — A shelter in Lackawanna County is urging pet owners to make sure their four-legged friends also stay safe in these freezing temps.
Shelter pets, like Nala, are just like pets at home. They love their walks outside. But this time of year, those walks can quickly turn dangerous.
"They go through a lot of stress. They can ultimately freeze. Hypothermia is a real thing," said Megan Rinko, the adoption coordinator at Griffin Pond Animal Shelter near Clarks Summit.
Rinko says animals shouldn't spend much time outside when temperatures drop below freezing.
"20 minutes in and out. And try to limit what their feet can handle."
Rinko says pets' paw pads are the first to freeze. And for dogs with white or light fur, like Nala, their paw pads are even more sensitive to the cold.
"Paw pads can get super raw, super cold. It can cause joint issues. You can have bleeding on the paw pads."
For pets that are outside animals, Rinko says it's important to make sure they have adequate shelter and access to food and water.
"Nobody's going to want to eat when they're cold. There's no water when it's available when it's all freezing, so dehydration is a very real possibility."
With the freezing temperatures, Rinko says abandoned animals are found in worse conditions. She says if a dog is experiencing hypothermia, do not try to thaw them too fast.
"We don't want to warm them as quickly. We want to gradually warm them so they don't have as many health defects in the years to come."
If you see an animal outside for too long, Rinko says to call for a welfare check on the animal through a local humane officer.
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