Now that frigid weather is here, don't forget the animals who can't get inside!

[Pea-n-Me]

First, I'll start off by saying this is NOT about animals kept in barns or in sheltered dog houses, etc.

This is about those animals who have nowhere to go or cannot get inside because they're tied or fenced, etc. Please think about helping them out. I shutter to think of any living being out in the biting winds and bitter cold and wintery elements (so naturally this applies to people outside as well).

I've spent much of my day (and yesterday) trying to help an unfamiliar cat that appears to have taken shelter under my deck. It is so cold outside it is truly one of those days that's not fit for man nor beast. I'm afraid she might have kittens under there that we can't see if we do manage to catch her. (The same thing happened two years ago.)

Hopefully this does not bring flames or get nasty (not my intention at all) but if it does but it helps even one of those who's cold, then it'll be worth it.

 

[Robindianne]

 

[LiLIrishChick63]

i wish i could help out all the animals who are stuck outside right now! obviously i wouldn't be able to bring them inside because i have 3 indoor cats already, but i keep asking DH if we can put some food outside or something and he tells me "then we'll have all the strays in the neighborhood hanging out!" lol

 

[HelenePA]

i wish i could help out all the animals who are stuck outside right now! obviously i wouldn't be able to bring them inside because i have 3 indoor cats already, but i keep asking DH if we can put some food outside or something and he tells me "then we'll have all the strays in the neighborhood hanging out!" lol

Yep your husband is right.. I feed my neighbors outside cats (because they dont) one night in the summer I had 7 cats on my porch They are all the neighborhood outside cats! None are strays! I feed my neighbors cats daily or they would starve... I deworm them monthly as well.. I really hate my neighbors they can't take care of themself.. why get cats?

 

[1957]

I buy large bags of wild bird seed, dried corn cobs, unsalted peanuts, black oil seed, and a couple of salt licks. My back yard is a large, low, thickly wooded hill. I spread this stuff generously during the winter and spring months. I also hang suet cakes from various trees. My sister kitties (10) and rescue doggie (9) stay inside. HATE it when people don't get their pets spayed/neutered!

 

[luvsmickeymouse]

I have a cat that hangs around that I share with the neighbors. I have her in my house for tonight. I am very allergic to cats but she is on my son's bed.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I buy large bags of wild bird seed, dried corn cobs, unsalted peanuts, black oil seed, and a couple of salt licks. My back yard is a large, low, thickly wooded hill. I spread this stuff generously during the winter and spring months. I also hang suet cakes from various trees.

Nice job! Your post reminded me of something I saw not too long ago about how to help stray animals in winter. I can't find the exact article but here are a few others.

http://www.michiganhumane.org/site/News2?news_iv_ctrl=-1&page=NewsArticle&id=13766

http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/clientEd/cold.aspx

http://www.hsus.org/press_and_publi...ffers_cold_weather_advice_for_pet_owners.html

This is neat - doghouses built by inmates: http://www.petfinder.com/for-shelters/operation-kindness.html?printer_friendly=1

Wind chill in Boston tonight below zero: http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2009/12/gusting_wind_dr.html

 

[crz4mm2]

There is a sweet looking little Boston terrier in my hometown that is ALWAYS kept outside. I feel so badly for him. I wanted to stop and pick him up yest, BUT my badass female Boston will NOT allow another dog in the house!

 

[Wall-E1]

Oh...okay. I'll let the kid sleep inside tonight - but only in the garage!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Still no luck getting the cat out, however it did manage to drag a bowlful of food back under the deck, now out of my reach! Water's freezing soon after it's put out. We'll keep at it.

 

[DMRick]

Still no luck getting the cat out, however it did manage to drag a bowlful of food back under the deck, now out of my reach! Water's freezing soon after it's put out. We'll keep at it.

Do you have a box that you can put blankets in and push way underneath? If it's feral, you will prob be pretty scratched up, if you try to bring it in. Our rescue group is feeding outdoor cats regularly..they are like a neighborhood. If we bring any in, others move in..if we leave them be, and give them straw and balnkets, the same ones hang around and they seem to make it through the winter. Hard food is better than soft, since the sof freezes, and they will lick the frozen water..although it stays better, if in a box..their body heat keeps it from freezing, especially if a few get in the box. We have about 50 ferals people take food to, and put straw out for.

 

[Maridw]

DH sent me an email yesterday asking if we could foster a lab/retriever puppy that had been found tied up outside with no food or water. He hates seeing animals treated like this.

I told him that would be fine, he wanted to make sure that it was okay, since I would be the one most of the responsibility would fall on, since I am home full time right now.

Our dog was a rescue in terrible shape. She is a cocker/lab mix and is the sweetest dog. When she is clipped, she looks like a lab puppy, even though she is 8 years old. When her hair grows out, you can see the cocker in her.

Out of all of our animals, 5 cats and 1 dog, only one was not a rescue. My DH would take in just about all animals if we had room.

When DH came home today, he said that another couple decided to foster the dog. They think that they will have no trouble finding it a home.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Do you have a box that you can put blankets in and push way underneath?

Thank you for posting this. I do have a thin box that will fit under there, I'm going to slide it in this afternoon. There is wood stacked up against the deck which is helping block the wind and I put a bunch of towels down before as well. He seems to be enjoying the cat food I bought yesterday (though he ate the dog food too, lol).

Thank you to all of you who do helping and rescue work for the animals.

 

[luvwinnie]

I am in a similar predicament. Discovered a cat with kittens living on our block. I've been putting food out, but can't do much else since they won't let me near them. I've emailed a few rescue orgs, no replies. I would like to try to trap them and bring them somewhere. At least they have food now.

 

[luvwinnie]

There is a sweet looking little Boston terrier in my hometown that is ALWAYS kept outside. I feel so badly for him. I wanted to stop and pick him up yest, BUT my badass female Boston will NOT allow another dog in the house!

Oh, that breed is NOT meant to be living outdoors. I would call the police.

 

[DMRick]

I am in a similar predicament. Discovered a cat with kittens living on our block. I've been putting food out, but can't do much else since they won't let me near them. I've emailed a few rescue orgs, no replies. I would like to try to trap them and bring them somewhere. At least they have food now.

I'm sorry no rescue group has gotten back to you. The gal who has the phone this week for our rescue (we have to take turns or we would all be burned out..we each also need down time) has been trying to get back to everyone in our area, but she's snowed under(literally now that it's snowing). Each call takes so much time. She needs to find out the need, and give it a prority number. Find someone to take a cage and go trap, or pick up (most people seem to think it's our problem and we shoudl go to them, not them to us), find a foster home for it to go in (very lacking right now), get someone to vaccinate, worm, deflea it, set up an appointment to get it s/n, make sure the foster home has food and litter (or deliver food and litter to the person who found the animal, that may not be able to afford it), and often a vet visit is in order. All with the holidays around us. The phones ring on Christmas and will ring on New Years and in the middle of the night. Many times it's angry people, because we didn't get right back to them, other times, it's threats of taking the pet to the shelter to put it down if we don't hurry. Often it's people saying the cat was a gift, and if we don't pick it up immediately, they will simply open their front door and let it out.
My home is full, as are all of other fosters, so sometimes it takes a couple of days for us to get back to the phone messages. We could call to tell them we are working on it, but by the time we hear the story (which we already heard on the message) and settle the people down, it eats into the time we could spend trying to find a place to place the cat. Very frustrating. We've been up with very little sleep as one of my foster babies had a bad surgery (fluid in his tiny lungs) this week, and has to be nebulized and be put over steam..it all takes up time. It's sitting here on my lap now, so I can monitor it's breathing...even though I have work to do and a houseful coming tonight and lots else to do. But it's still worth every minute.

 

[Mau Loa Disney]

Oh, I hope the cat that is in my metal shed is ok. My shed door is cracked so he/she must of got in to stay warm. it still seems cold to me, but he seems healthy. I do worry about him as I have 2 dogs that I was afraid would bother him, but they have it to good inside to even worry about him. Ive been feeding him canned tuna (thank goodness for Costco-I have tons of it) and water. I put a blanket in the shed. I cant find him today, but the food was gone. i hope he comes back at night...I hate to think he is out in the cold... Do you think a metal building would be enough protection? Its been right at the freezing mark around here in the evenings.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Do you think a metal building would be enough protection? Its been right at the freezing mark around here in the evenings.

My husband says that cats usually somehow manage to do ok as long as they have somewhere for shelter. It's good that you put the blanket and food in there.

No sign of the cat under our deck today yet. It's snowing out now. We found some frozen food from last night that he didn't eat. Maybe my dog being outside scared him off.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I thought the people of this thread might enjoy this story:

http://multimedia.wbz.com/m/video/28223913/frozen-cat-gets-another-chance-at-life.htm

 

[disykat]

I accidently stepped on our neighbor's neglected cat today - hard. I was bringing in groceries and opened the garage door. I didn't realize the cat had run into my garage and was standing on a step between my garage and laundry room. I went out to get the next load from the car and stepped on the cat - who was apparently right on the step. The cat went flying and so did I. I'm recovering but I haven't seen the cat. Hopefully it is okay.

We thought they were taking it in during our really cold spell recently because we didn't see it for a few days. It turned out one of our other neighbors took it inside. I doubt it's "owners" even noticed.

I guess now I know to look out for cats running into my garage, but it was certainly unexpected at that moment. Why do people get cats if they aren't ever going to let them in? This cat is obviously starving for attention. It loves people and other animals - including my dog.