Cold Weather Safety Tips For Pets

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals offers many tips to help protect our pets. Here are a few guidelines to keep your pets safe, healthy and happy as the cold weather approaches.

Keep your pets, both dogs and cats, indoors, especially throughout winter. Aside from the dangers of frostbite, cats can find an unsafe refuge under the hoods of cars. To keep stray cats safe, remember to bang on the hood of your car or check first to give a safe warning before starting your car. More dogs are lost during winter than any other time of year as they lose their scent and their focus during winter storms.

Never shave your dog too close to the skin in cold months. If you have a shorthaired breed, consider a doggie sweater. For many breeds such as the greyhound, this is mandatory.

Never leave your dog or cat alone in the car in winter. The cold car can trap the frigid air and prove fatal.

Always provide a warm safe place for your companion animal to sleep. A dog or cat bed with a blanket or pillow works best.

Reported By Nan Talleno, KYW Newsradio