www.oakvillebeaver.com18 - The Oakville Beaver, Friday December 22, 2006

© Tim Hortons, 2006

We’re proud to be a part of this community, and

we'd like to thank you with the gift of Free Holiday

Skating. Visit your local Tim Hortons for a schedule

of ice times and locations. And spend some quality

ice time with your family - on us.

Tim HortonsFree Holiday Skating.

It’s our way of saying thanks.

ProblemSolvingsince

1982

905-845-0701

Experienceis the difference!

E-MAIL: scott@gasfix.ca

Gas FireplaceRepair andInstallations

We Service & Carry Parts forthe following when we arrive atyour door: Insta-Flame, Valor,Napoleon, Regency, Majestic,

Heat-N-Glow, Heatolator, Selkirk,Vermont Casting, Osburn &

Many Other Brands

Cold weather bringswith it the need to pre-pare households, vehi-

cles and people for the drop inthe temperature. While youprepare to winterize yourlifestyle for the chilly monthsahead, this time of year alsocalls for a change in pet rou-tines.

Nobody likes to be out inthe cold too long and pets areno exception. Keep pets insideduring cold weather.

With rising fuel costs it istempting to lower the ther-mostat. Be mindful of drafts

in your household. Older dogsin particular feel the coldmore readily. Make sure thattheir bed is cushioned andwarm.

Like older animals, pup-pies and kittens feel the cold

more. Avoid letting your kit-ten outdoors and take puppiesout only to relieve themselves.Long walks in cold tempera-tures are not good for puppiesand are best kept for warmerdays.

If traveling, do not keep apet in the car while you visit.Cars can hold in the cold airand can actually get colderthan the outdoors. Cats anddogs can easily sustain frost-bite in ears, tails and toes ifexposed to temperatureextremes.

Fur helps to thermo-regu-late your pet’s body tempera-ture, but with significantdrops in temperature, animalscannot keep warm.

If you shave your pet in thesummer to keep it cool, thinkabout letting its fur grow

through the winter months. Ifyour pet has short hair yearround, consider getting him acoat.

Water repellant coats keepyour pet warm and dry. Toprevent irritation caused bysalt in paws, there are evenboots available. Make sure youwipe off feet and the undersideof your dog if they have beenout for a walk on a salty side-walk. Salt can be harmful toyour pets’ skin. Small dogsand cats that are closer to theground are often more affect-ed by contact with road salt.

If enjoying the outdoorswith your pet is one of yourfavourite recreational activi-ties, consider giving youractive outdoor animal anincrease in their meal portionsduring cold months. Itrequires a great deal of energyto deal with the cold. Help giveyour pet what it needs to enjoythe outdoors without tiringeasily. Consider other exerciseoptions when the weatherbecomes too snowy and icy.

Pets can easily injurethemselves by slipping ininclement weather. Keep yourpet on a leash and close athand when not on your prop-erty.

Fresh snow also reducesvisibility and decreases theability of the dog to use smellto locate family and home. Iflost, a dog can pose a signifi-cant risk to drivers copingwith less than ideal road con-ditions and a greater danger toits own life.

As you prepare for the win-ter months ahead, pet ownersare reminded that thinkingahead can help keep your catand dog safe from the cold.

For more information,contact the Oakville & DistrictHumane Society at 905-845-1551.

Chocolate is commonlyfound in households at thistime of year, but is toxic to ani-

mals. In the event your animalingests some chocolate, watchhis behaviour closely and haveyour veterinarian’s holidayschedule handy in the eventyou need to call.

With a little caution yourhalls can be safely decked forboth people and animals alike.But before you invite guestsover, don’t forget thatstrangers coming into yourhome can alarm an animaland they may make a break forit at the door.

Introduce new peopleslowly. For the overly shy petyou may want to keep it in asafe and quiet room in thehouse until the party is over.

In either case, ensure thatyour dog is wearing its annualdog licence tag and that yourcat has identification (collar,name tag, microchip). Losinga pet at this time of year bringsunnecessary heartbreak.

For more informationabout decking your halls in apet friendly way forChristmas, contact theOakville & District HumaneSociety at 905-845-1551.— Submitted by the Oakville& District Humane Society.

’Tis the season to winterize your pet routines

PET OF THE WEEK:Blossom is a great cat. She isabout two years old,declawed and very sweet.Many of the other animalslooking for homes can beviewed at www.oakvillehu-mane.ca.