Cold weather prompts reminders about cold pets

The cold weather is not only affecting people, but it’s affecting pets too.

“We had a dog brought in just last night that was frozen solid,” said Pocatello Animal Shelter Manager Danielle Garcia.

Garcia said this sin’t the first time she’s seen an animal die because it was left outside, but she says what makes it sad is how preventable it is.

“People really need to be diligent about making sure your animals are warm, in this weather especially,” Garcia said. “Just like in the summer, extreme cold, extreme heat, don’t leave them locked in a car and don’t leave them locked outside.”

While the dog that froze to death may have been accidental, one case this week the Bannock Humane Society saw was not.

“He was probably a six-week-old little Black Lab puppy,” said board member Eileen Jackson. “The girl found him in a plastic Wal-Mart bag with the strings tied around his neck, in a dumpster.”

Jackson said this is plain cruelty, but the puppy did have a happy ending, finding a home with the girl who found him.

Jackson and Garcia both spoke about these events while animals were being sent to good homes at the Share the Love adoption event, taking place Saturday at Phil Meador Subaru.

“Please don’t leave them out without shelter,” Jackson said. “It’s best not to leave them out, but if you’re going to, make sure they’ve got some place to go, and food and water. It’s just not fair, and that happens a lot here.”

Both Jackson and Garcia said they enjoy adoption events like the Share the Love event because it reminds them they get to see lucky animals go to lucky new pet owners. They made sure to remind everyone adopting a pet that, while a new pet may make a good Christmas gift, it’s best you make them an early gift.

“There’s a lot of stress and chaos going on at your house on Christmas,” Garcia said. “This way, they have a chance to get to know you, you get to know them, they can acclimate into your home and it’s a lot less stressful for them.”