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I have seen into the future and know how I’m going to die – It will be this winter, caused by a 70 pound dog, on a leash, on ice, that sees a squirrel in the distance.

My Lola loves the snow.  She loves to catch snowballs and walk out in it and wags her tail the whole time.  But, I understand that her dominant Vizsla breed means that she has very little undercoat and gets really cold in inclement weather.  So, she’s only getting short walks right now and wears her fleece jacket whenever we go out (yes, pet clothes are for more than just looks).  She may not like it, but its the responsible thing to do.  And as long as she has a spot in the house next to a heat source, she’s a happy dog.

In fact, just a couple of years ago Lola jumped into a swimming pool that was unheated in about 40 degree weather.  While it was only for a split second, she ended up with a medical issue called Limp Tail – where her tail muscles constricted for days, caused her much pain, and rendered her wag-less for almost a week.

So when I walked to Peet’s today, I felt really bad for a poor dog that was left tied up outside the coffee shop with no coat while its owners sat inside for 20+ minutes enjoying a latte.  While you’re bundling up in 5 extra layers, what makes you think the dog doesn’t need an extra layer too? 
And why leave him tied up in the cold while you warm up?

So, north Seattle residents, here are some ideas for keeping Fido warm.

• Leave him at home.  I don’t like to see dogs tied up outside of businesses to begin with, but when it’s below freezing and you’re doing more than running in for 5 minutes, it just seems mean to leave him out there.  It’s too cold for him to sit or lay down, and his pads can easily crack and bleed from the ice.
• Don’t leave him in the car either.  Remember how it felt when you got in your car this morning after it sat out freezing all night?  He feels that, too.
• Make sure your dog is getting enough food.  They use up more energy if they’re running around in the cold and need more protein. 
• Be extra careful with puppies – they don’t do as well in the cold as adult dogs – treat them almost like you would a human baby and keep them wrapped up warm if they’re outside.
• Watch what your dog is sniffing/licking/walking through during icy weather.  A lot of people put de-icer and salt out which is great for us, but bad for a dog’s tummy.

Find more good cold weather tips at the ASPCA website.  And for the cat owners too – remember that your outdoor kitty is cold too.  Try to provide some blankets (my friend’s neighbor actually has a pet bed on their porch with an electric blanket) and make sure they’re not sleeping under the car before shooting off!