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Show Winter weather dictates special care for animals By GARY R. BLODGETT FRUIT HEIGHTS With the onset cf cold, winter weather, a Davis County Animal Control Con-trol and Care officer has issued some recommendations recom-mendations for keeping your family pets dry and healthy. Glenn Taylor, director of the county shelter and care center in Fruit Heights, said calls; from Davis County residents skyrocket during the winter months from persons complaining of animal neglect or cruelty. Calls from residents wanting to know how to care for their own pets also increase during the winter, especially when the temperature drops to near zero for several nights in a row. He said the best prevention against outdoor pets suffering from the extreme cold is to provide pro-vide the animals with a good diet, proper insulation, in-sulation, and a way for the animal to get in out of the extreme cold. "Proper care of animals pertains to larger animals as well," said Mr. Taylor. "Farm animals suffer just as much from the extreme cold, wet weather as do smaller animals." He emphasized that they should have proper shelter to protect them against the wind, wet and cold. Proper feed and water should also be provided so that the animals will stay healthy. "If they do not have these basic needs, anim- als will tend to run away and seek food and shelter," he said, noting that it is a criminal offense to neglect or not provide proper care and needs for animals. Animals living or spending a lot of time outside out-side also need more food and water to remain healthy during the winter. Dogs, for example, need 20 to 25 percent more protein during the winter, especially those that spend a lot of time out of doors. He also noted that pets that have previously been house pets but are now being housed outside out-side should be "groomed" for staying out of doors. This conditioning should be done over a ' period of time so that an extra layer of fat can accumulate to protect against the cold. Mr. Taylor stressed that dog houses for use outdoors should be well-built with insulated walls, roofing and floors. Pieces of carpet, straw or hay provide excellent insulation for the floor. Cats, too, should have proper housing and, if possible, a way to get in out of the cold. Plenty of food and water should be provided, and water wa-ter should be checked often to be certain that it doesn't freeze. Persons with questions about pet and farm animal care during the winter or persons who witness cruelty to animals by others are urged to contact the Davis County Animal Control Center in Fruit Heights. |