As the temperatures start to drop, animal owners need to remember that their pets are not wild animals that can survive whatever nature throws their way. Unless a dog has been overfed it will not have a layer of insulating fat and, no matter what its diet, it very probably will never grow a thick winter coat. The same is true for cats, ferrets and rabbits. These animals have been domesticated by humans for thousands of years and have lost the physical ability to adapt to weather changes the way wild animals do to survive winter. In addition to these physical changes, modern civilization has generated a whole new set of environmental challenges for our pets to cope with.
Automobiles, always dangerous to animals, become more so at this time of year. Lovers of warm places that cats are, they are drawn to warm car engines and will climb up into the engine compartment to partake of the warmth, not knowing that when engines start up again different parts can move and cause injury, never mind that the heat of the engine can reach scalding temperatures or that the car will move to a different location. Just in case, a lot of drivers will pound on their car hood or honk their horn before starting up their engines.
Antifreeze leaking from cars is also a danger. It smells and tastes sweet and can be found in puddles under warm cars. What animal could resist? They don’t know that antifreeze is a poison that can, and will, kill. So, if your car is leaking antifreeze, please get it fixed. Or if you spill antifreeze, dilute it with water.
Salt is another danger for pets. In the concentrations that are required to melt ice, salt is caustic to the fleshy pads on the feet of dogs and cats. Some dog walkers will put boots on their dogs’ feet to protect them, others wash their dogs’ feet after they walk and still others steer their dogs away from heavy salt deposits. One thing the rest of us can do is be less wasteful. We can scatter salt evenly when salting sidewalks and sweep up any remnants for reuse after the ice has melted. There are also new ice melting materials on the market that are animal safe.
Humanity has created a world that makes life difficult for the rest of Nature’s creatures. But if we care, we can make it easier.
Millie Dellaquila,
Teatown Lake Reservation
