Families with pets have been issued with guidance ahead of freezing conditions in the West Midlands this weekend. Owners of dogs, cats and other small animals have been warned as treacherous conditions are set to hit Birmingham and the wider West Midlands region.
The RSPCA has called on people to take extra steps to protect animals following a new 18-hour Met Office snow and ice warning for the West Midlands. On top of an existing yellow weather warning, the forecaster has upgraded the threat of snow to amber for large parts of England and Wales
As temperatures drop, RSPCA bosses have warned families with dogs, cats and smaller animals to plan ahead and be on guard for things like rock salt, which can be poisonous to be pets. The new amber alert is due to begin at 6pm tomorrow on Saturday, January 4, and run until 12pm on Sunday, January 5. It means there will be two weather warnings in the region. You can read more on that, here.
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RSPCA pet welfare specialist Dr Sam Gaines said: “It’s really important we help our animal friends during this latest upcoming spell of cold weather.
“As we all strive to create a better world for every animal, people can share our helpful advice and tips to make sure their own animals, and local wildlife, are kept safe.”
RSPCA guidance for cold weather
- Keep a close eye on outdoor pets like rabbits and guinea pigs; if the temperature starts to drop below freezing, you may wish to move your bunny inside. The RSPCA recommends guinea pigs are housed indoors when temperatures are below 15C
- Ensure cats have constant access to the house or to a warm, indoor area such as an outbuilding or barn
- Antifreeze and rock salt – commonly used at this time of year – can be poisonous to pets so keep any stored products out of their reach
- If you have a pet who gets wet or cold, rub them dry with a towel and make sure they have plenty of warm bedding.
- If you have an elderly or sickly dog, you can buy a special coat or jumper to keep them warm when you’re out walking. Make sure your dog can still behave normally, for example, go to the toilet easily and that it is a good and comfortable fit.
- When walking your dog in the dark or riding your horse, wear reflective clothing and think about reflective protection for your pet too
- Keep your pet dog away from frozen ponds, lakes or rivers which can pose a danger, and make sure their paws don’t get impacted with snow
- If you keep pet birds in aviaries, coops, or runs, then you should also protect them from the cold weather. Provide plenty of additional dry, warm bedding such as straw and cover enclosures to keep the wind and rain out
- Never house animals, including birds, in greenhouses and take caution when housing them in conservatories
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The RSPCA doesn’t advise keeping dogs outside in any weather. Meeting the needs of dogs when they’re kept outside is very hard – and more so in very low temperatures. Owners should make sure their dogs have a clean, comfortable and dry sleeping area with a safe heat source so the temperature does not drop below 10C