Welcome Winter: Or should I say Spring, Summer, Fall & Winter! What wild weather we are having. I think we all are just hoping for some sunny, dry days! I can’t believe how long it’s been since I have written a newsletter. Things have surely changed around the Bower household. We had our first child, a little boy, back in August 2012 and our second child, a little girl, in March 2015. I remember sitting here typing about the stress of our dog Brodie chewing things, and getting into trouble. WELL, he doesn’t even begin to compare to a 3 year old boy:) Parenthood is such an exciting, yet exhausting journey. I love being able to spend so much time with them, they grow so fast! I can’t believe the kennel will be celebrating its 7th year this April. Talk about children growing fast, time flies all around. Thank you to all our wonderful clients for another great year!
My Winter newsletter usually provides a few tips for the frigid temperatures, although it was 60 degrees today, I feel compelled to list them anyway. Puxatony Phil did not see his shadow which calls for an early spring, but here they are anyway….
Here are a few tips:
-It is best to keep pets indoors during the winter months, but if this is not possible, outdoor pets must be provided with shelter. Their home should be elevated off the ground to prevent moisture accumulation and have a door of some kind to keep out winter winds, sleet, and snow. Shelters should be insulated or heated. In severely cold or inclement weather, no pet should be kept outside. During the winter, outdoor cats sometimes sleep under the hoods of cars. When the motor is started, the cat can be injured or killed by the fan belt. If there are outdoor cats in your area, bang loudly on the car hood before starting the engine to give the cat a chance to escape. Be particularly gentle with elderly and arthritic pets during the winter. The cold can leave their joints extremely stiff and tender, and they may become more weak than usual.
-If you live near a pond or lake, be very cautious about letting your dog off the leash. Animals can easily fall through the ice, and it is very difficult for them to escape on their own. If you must let your dogs loose near open water, stay with them at all times.
-Keep an eye on your pet’s water. Sometimes owners don’t realize that a water bowl has frozen and their pet can’t get anything to drink (This has happened to me). Animals that don’t have access to clean, unfrozen water are more likely to drink out of puddles or gutters, which can be polluted.
Don’t forget when searching for your new companion to visit the SPCA, they are full of puppies/kittens, adult dogs/cats, mixed and pure breeds that all need homes. Please give your local shelter a chance before contacting a breeder, I promise that an adopted pet will love you just as much, if not more….
Thank you again for taking the time to read this quarterly newsletter and don’t forget to think of us when it comes time to board your little ones if you decide to head south, or north, for the winter. It’s always the perfect temperature inside with us!
From one extreme pet lover to another….
Nichole |
