To remind people to bring their animals inside in this weather?

[MotherofaSurvivor]

Just that really. I saw a thread a few weeks ago about this and I was astounded at how many people believed Dogs & Cats can't feel the cold?! Please don't be cruel. It's only Golden Retrievers & Alsations that don't feel quite as cold as we do. It was a Veterinary Surgeon who told me that a few years ago. Along with the fact that a 'Fur Coat' isn't sufficient for any animal in the winter. So it certainly won't be when it's this cold!!
Dogs & cats can still get Hypothermia and many do!!

Rabbits are weird though mother. I think if they are outdoors rabbits and they’ve got good accommodation (eg fully enclosed as in no mesh open windows, draft free) they are ok.

I’ve tried to keep mine inside 3 times in this weather. They have made it very clear they do not want to be in the house. For example: today they made a break for it when I was trying to bring in their litter tray, and streaked, binkying, towards their shed at the bottom of the garden, and hung around until I let them in!

So, it’s back to taking snugglesafes/checking them throughout the day and night!

Despite the house being lovely and warm (DP has just got in from work and stripped down to his t-shirt), the dog is determined to snuggle up at every opportunity. She has a lovely cosy bed, out of any draughts, with vetbed fleece on top of the cushion, but still plonks herself next to me the minute I sit down.

She then spends a few minutes fidgetting to ensure that as much of her body is touching mine. She's got a really thick coat, too, she can't possibly be cold.

I feel sorry for horses that are out. All the horses near me have disappeared, presumably snug in their stables.

Dogs and cats are completely different though as they are animals that live indoors.

Feel free to try and get my horses into their shelter, they’ve gone totally feral and are refusing to go anywhere near it, or me! One of them doesn’t even have a rug on . Call the RSPCA!

It would be like something out of a squash and a squeeze if I brought all ours in.
The ponies are triple rugged and in their stables, dog has his heat lamp on, the cat suits himself as to where he wants to be, the chickens have extra straw to keep them warm.

We also have 420 sheep and 380 cattle but they are just going to have to stay in their fields and sheds

It’s keeping the water running that’s the biggest task in this weather!

OMG what should I do with my huskies ?
and Norwegian forest cats?
What about the malamutes?
And the Siberian cat?
And the Scottish wildcats?
Then theres the St Bernard, the Akita, the Anatolian Mountain dog, the Chow, the Swiss mountain dog, the Karakachan Bear Dog, Samoyed ...... to name a few off the top of my head ......

Do you think I should bring in the foxes as well?

Generally speaking I agree and would never ever leave our dog outside in this. However, growing up in New England with winters rather more extreme than what we currently have in the UK, my parents didn’t have a hope in hell in getting our cats or dogs in.

The cats were semi feral and would heap themselves into a big pile under the porch (you’d lose a finger if you tried to haul them out!) and the dogs would dig snow holes under a bush and settle in for the night.

I remember one particularly bad winter night when my father was out at about one in the morning trying to persuade the dogs to come in. They just looked at him like he had two heads and buried their heads in their tails and went to back to sleep.

But yeah, we have indoor animals here and my dog would be distraught and miserable if I left him out.

Dogs and cats are completely different though as they are animals that live indoors.

Some are, some are working animals and kennelled outside. Cats are wild animals, provided it has free access to shelter it will be fine.

Properly insulated kennels/rabbit hutches will be fine, we used to give our Labrador the choice on cold nights of going out to her kennel or sleeping in and she often chose outside. It had insulated floor and walls and door flaps etc, she was cosy in there.

Yeah I’m not bringing my chickens in. They have been put to bed all locked up in their coops in their roofed and fenced runs.

My birds (parakeet's) are still getting over respiratory infections so have not been able to fly around when I'm home. So they're staying warm together in their flight cage and have extra blankets when it's bed time.

some are working animals and kennelled outside.

Well yes but these are very unusual temperatures though aren’t they? A dog that used to being kennelled in the uk isn’t used to being kennelled in temperatures colder than Iceland.

My friend has a working collie on her farm that is usually kennelled outside, she’s being brought into the barn and has the heat lamp usually used for chicks over her bed.

Cats are wild animals

Pets aren’t wild animals.

DCat2 made it out to the garden at lunchtime, DCat1 was taken out by DD but ran straight back in, no chance of them freezing, even the heating has been kept on to keep them warm

However growing up I had horses and farm cats and one would not have their top door closed whatever the weather and survived just with extra bedding, no heaters. The cats slept with the horses and wouldn5 come in the house.

My next door but one neighbour had two rabbits in a makeshift enclosure in the garden they constantly escaped theres only one left now and the enclosure has completely fallen down it's got no hay, no food, no water and it's left to roam freely it's been out in the snow. I've reported her to the RSPCA but they didn't do anything. I'm considering bunny napping it and handing it over to a rescue before it dies like I suspect the other did.

Even the local rescues have been bringing their bunnies in now as it's gotten too cold for them.

My bunny is inside, curled up in a puppy crate. Shes in the conservatory so whilst it will be considerbly warmer than outside, it wont be too warm. My cats come and go as they please.

In some states in the US, it is a felony to leave your pets outside in very cold weather. It generally is cruelty to animals to do so. Don't leave your pet outside for longer than 30 minutes if it's below 0 C (32 F). Don't leave them outside for more than 30 minutes if it's hotter than 32 C (90 F) or leave them in a hot car in the summer.

If you do take your dog outside in the snow, wash its paws when it comes inside. They track ice, salt, and mud into the house on their paws, which isn't good for them or for your floors.

Our African pygmy hedgehog who lives inside decided it was too cold in our living room and tried to hibernate today. I've spent most of the day in the bedroom watching her laying on top of the radiator to warm her up to stop the hibernating! Will have to switch the heating up!

African pygmy hedgehog

Pics please!

My two Spaniels go to bed with a hot water bottle every night during winter (they know not to chew it!). They are a tad spoilt.

I think there's a difference between leaving your dog outside and letting them have a little run around with you. Dogs need walking and when they are running around, they warm up. I don't have one but I saw lots of dogs out on the slopes having so much fun. Kids and adults would sledge down and the dog would chase them. All dogs looked very happy and not cold. Obviously not hours on end and be responsible.

LadyDeadpool aww go get the poor little thing. Sneak in with a balaclava on and rescue it.

My snails snug in his tank and the dogs are by the fire

Apparently the guideline is to spend 10 minutes where your animal sleeps, and if you're too cold, they'll be too cold.

My cat lives outdoors

Try to coax her in as much as I can but I feel like a butler opening the door to let her in and out every hour

She has a bed in the outhouse and she's discovered the insulated heating pipes so she is ok.

I would much rather she was in, especially with it being so cold, but if I force her in when she wants to be out, she will destroy the house and self harm in her determination to get out. She once jumped out of an upstairs window in her desperation