From: Hannibal Police Department
Date: January 2, 2018
Phone: 573-221-0987
Fax: 573-221-3966
Contact: Lt. John Zerbonia
As the temperatures continue to drop, the Hannibal Police Department is reminding pet owners about the dangers the frigid weather poses for animals. If it’s too cold for you to spend much time outside, then it’s probably too cold for your cats and dogs. Frosty weather can be dangerous for pets, particularly smaller dogs or ones with lighter fur. Keeping animals inside during extreme weather is the best option. It is not recommended keeping any pet outside for long periods of time, but if you are unable to keep your pet inside during cold weather, provide them with a warm, solid shelter against wind. Make sure that they have unlimited access to fresh, non-frozen water and plenty of food. Outdoor pets will require more calories in the winter to generate enough body heat and energy to keep them warm. The floor of the shelter should be off of the ground (to minimize heat loss into the ground) and the bedding should be thick, dry and changed regularly to provide a warm, dry environment. The door of the shelter should be positioned away from prevailing winds.
The Police Departments Community Service Officers will be proactively looking for poor animal conditions during all extreme weather conditions.
