National Keep Pets Safe in Winter Day: December 22

Guest post by Carol Bryant

December 22 marks the official start of the winter season, but doesn’t it seem like so many of us were just at BlogPaws Virginia and bracing for rain and not *gulp* snow?

According to the ASPCA, the number one reason pets get lost in the winter is because they get disoriented from snow and ice. Together with the ASPCA and Morton Safe-T-Pet, pet owners are being encouraged to practice winter safety. Having been through a hurricane, earthquake, and evacuated from my home this year due to a near flooding disaster, my dog, Dexter, and I are taking no chances with winter safety.

BlogPaws fans and fur-ends are being encouraged to blog about National Keep Pets Safe in Winter Day and even feel free to use some of these tips:

• Keep cats and dogs indoors.
• Clear a path in the snow/ice and use a pet-friendly, no-salt ice melt such as Morton Safe-T-Pet.
• Keep your dog on a short leash and stay out just long enough for the dogs to relieve themselves.
• Remove snow and ice from the paws and fur after leash walks.
• Check warm spots on cars, such as hoods, where animals might seek shelter from the cold.
• Be sure pets are wearing identification tags and proper outerwear as needed.
• Protect short haired or sensitive dogs during walks by using coats and boots. (or something like Musher’s Secret, which protects pads)

Morton and the ASPCA have launched this campaign, which runs through January of 2012. The purpose is to share important pet safety tips with as many pet owners as possible to help reduce winter weather-related pet injuries and fatalities.  These tips can be found on Morton’s website (www.mortonmelters.com) and on Facebook at (www.facebook.com/MortonSalt).

As part of the campaign, Morton is making a $20,000 donation to the ASPCA to help continue its life-saving work and provide resources to pet owners on pet wellness.  In addition, for every unique Facebook fan “like” received on Morton’s Facebook page from Oct. 1 through Jan. 31, 2012, Morton will donate $1 to the ASPCA, up to $55,000. This additional funding from Morton will be used by the ASPCA to raise awareness about the importance of proper winter pet care and safety.

Bloggers are also invited to win a $500 ad campaign and give kits of winter pet preparation products to pet moms and dads via their blogs. For information about that email me at fidoseofreality@gmail.com.

Meantime, bundle up, keep those pets protected from winter’s dangers, and enjoy the holiday season because baby, it’s cold outside.

About the author: Carol Bryant has traveled with dogs for over 15 years and is touted as a dog product and travel expert. A frequent media contributor, Carol has appeared on Animal Radio and Oprah Radio’s Gayle King Show, WBAL-TV, News12CT, and as a guest speaker at conferences and seminars about social media, writing, dogs and dog travel. She is also a two-time nominee from the Dog Writers Association of America.  Visit her blog at www.fidoseofreality.com and the FIDO Friendly magazine blog at www.fidofriendly.com/blog, winner of the Best Dog Blog from Dogtime Media.