Tips to keep your pets safe during a cold Saskatchewan winter

With the harsh cold of winter hitting Saskatchewan, pet owners should take special to make sure their furry companions stay safe.

Bill Thorn, with the Regina Humane Society, said pet owners should employ common sense and pay attention to their pets’ behaviour when they’re outdoors for a walk.

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“If you’re feeling cold, chances are your pet’s going to be feeling cold too, despite that furry coat that they might have,” he said.

“Watch for signs if you’re out for a walk with your dog. You want to make sure you watch for things like lifting their paw off the ground because it’s cold, (or) shivering.”

Thorn said pets will sometimes try to guide their owners back indoors when they’re feeling cold.

“Sometimes they’ll want to start turning back home, and that can be an indication that they’re not as comfortable outside as they should be,” he said.

Thorn also said owners can shorten their walks with if the cold becomes too much for an animal, or they can simply go up and down their own street so they’re never too far away from home.

He said cats should be kept inside during the winter, as they don’t tolerate the cold very well. Thorn also said older dogs and younger puppies are also more sensitive to the cold.

Residents were out with snowblowers on Sunday as the cleanup in Regina began after 15 to 20 cm of snow fell in the city on Nov. 24, 2024. (Gillian Massie/980 CJME)

Watch out for water

If pet owners do go outside, Thorn said they should be mindful of bodies of water, especially early and late in the season when ice is most treacherous.

“We have a lot of residential lakes and creeks through our city. They may not be completely frozen yet, so make sure that you’re keeping your pets clear of those,” he said.

“Sometimes (those water bodies) could be moving water, too, and it never really freezes up the way it should to support their weight.”

Thorn also said pet owners shouldn’t leave animals unattended in cars when it’s cold out.

Regina Humane Society nearly at capacity

Thorn said humane society tends to see an uptick in the number of animals it takes in following the winter’s first real hit of cold weather.

“The ones that are coming in due to the cold tend to be more strays. People that might be surrendering their own pet aren’t really driven by the weather,” he said.

He noted that some might also be escaped pets.

Thorn said the Regina Humane Society had 137 cats in care and 41 dogs as of Wednesday.

While the number of animals humane society can accommodate is somewhat flexible, Thorn said the shelter was very near its limit until last week when they were able to transfer some dogs away.

The current number of animals is manageable, but Thorn said that can change in an instant, because the number of animals they take in isn’t always predictable.

Thorn said it’s much easier to transfer cats to other facilities than it is for dogs.