Protect Pets this Winter

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Great Plains SPCA (GPSPCA), Kansas City, Kansas Animal Services (KCKAS), and The Humane Society of Greater Kansas City (HSGKC), have issued an urgent warning via social media to pet owners and animal advocates in the Kansas City metro area about the frigid weather forecast for the foreseeable future. After reports of a mother dog in Oklahoma City who froze to death, orphaning her seven puppies, and a dog dying from exposure after being found with no water in an empty dog house with no straw in Hopkinsville, KY, these organizations want to prevent these types of incidents from happening in Kansas City.

GPSPCA, KCKAS and HSGKC are making a plea to the public to do everything to protect their own pets by bringing them inside and giving them warm and dry shelter and unfrozen water. The public is also implored to report animals in danger to their local animal control agency (link to these agencies can be found here). Supplies including fresh straw, coats, dog houses and other items are available to owners in need by contacting these organizations as follows:

• Great Plains SPCA - (913) 831-7722 or info@greatplainsspca.org
• Kansas City, KS Animal Services - During business hours at (913) 321-1445 or after hours at (913) 596-3000
• Humane Society of Greater Kansas City – (913) 596-1000 or outreach@hsgkc.org  
• If a pet owner is no longer able to look after their outside pet and wishes to rehome it please contact lhacker@greatplainsspca.org

GPSPCA Chief Executive Officer, Tam Singer, said, “Temperatures this week are expected to drop well below zero.  Like people, cats and dogs are susceptible to frostbite and hypothermia and should be kept inside. Being left outside in these conditions is life-threatening for any dog or cat, even those with heavy coats.”

HSGKC President and Chief Executive Officer, Kate Fields, said, “This is the time of year that our outreach team sees the effects of cold weather first hand. It’s a good, if not disturbing, reminder to please bring your pets inside when you can, at least overnight. This is an issue we see every year and we are doing our best to educate our community on the dangers of midwestern winters. Bring them in, their life depends on it.”

KCKAS Director of Animal Services, Jennifer Stewart, said, “In these extreme cold temperatures, your pet’s life can be endangered if it is left out in the cold.  Even a dog house with straw may not be enough to protect them from hypothermia!  It’s tempting to think your pet’s fur will keep them warm while they’re outside or that a dog house is sufficient to protect them but often times that is not enough to keep your dog warm and safe. Imagine if you were outside for an hour or two, even with a winter coat on, you, too, would struggle to maintain your body heat to protect you from harm.  If it’s dangerously cold for you, it’s dangerously cold for your pet! Please bring your pets indoors to protect them from the bitterly cold temperatures we will be experiencing this winter.”

About Great Plains SPCA

Great Plains SPCA is a no-kill animal shelter in Merriam, Kansas serving 6,000 community pets annually. Great Plains SPCA works to save, protect and improve the lives of animals, while strengthening the relationship between pets and their human companions by providing humane sheltering, adoptions, community outreach and behavior and training. Great Plains SPCA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. For more information, please visit greatplainsspca.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

About Kansas City, Kansas Animal Services

Kansas City, Kansas Animal Services is a no-kill municipal shelter that serves nearly 4,000 animals and community pets annually. KCK Animal Services works with our community to reunite lost pets and to educate citizens on proper pet ownership. We have built strong relationships with community outreach groups that offer supplies to help keep pets healthy and safe.

About Humane Society of Greater Kansas City

The Humane Society of Greater Kansas City celebrates over 100 years of faithful service to the lost, abandoned, and broken pets of the Greater Kansas City area. Our mission is to save and improve the lives of dogs and cats throughout the Greater Kansas City community by providing preventive veterinary care and spay/neuter services, education and adoptions. Our Affordable Care Clinic provides life-saving veterinary care those in need, touching the lives of over 16,000 pets annually. HSGKC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. For more information, please visit hsgkc.org or follow us on Facebook or Instagram.