AUSTIN, Texas — As Central Texas braces for freezing temperatures, Austin Pets Alive! (APA!) is urging pet owners to take precautions to keep their animals safe.
"As temperatures are set to drop below freezing tonight, please share this post with everyone you know via social and Nextdoor so we can all work to keep animals safe during the cold and make sure our community is supported," the shelter shared on Twitter, along with a handful of tips.
- Keep pets indoors during extreme weather conditions. Outdoor time should be limited as much as it can be to prevent possible frostbite.
- Consider opening your garage slightly (and leaving a heating pad or heat lamp on) to let cats in from the cold.
- Provide shelter with insultation and heat (Heating pad or straw, not hay) or any outdoor pets/strays that can't be brought indoors.
RELATED: Timeline: Winter Storm Warning issued for Central Texas; latest on timing and ice potential
The shelter also urges drivers to check engines before starting their vehicles. Cats often like to hide inside the hood of cars during cold weather.
The local nonprofit says if you are in need of supplies during the current freezing temperatures, you can pick up pet food and other donated items at the Austin Pets Alive! Town Lake Animal Center location. Food and pet care items are available from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m., Thursday and Friday, in front of the clinic.
Due to the current winter storm, Austin Pets Alive!’s shelter locations will be closed for walk-in adoptions on Thursday, Feb. 3. All three of the Austin Pets Alive! Thrift locations are also closed on Thursday. The nonprofit shelter says it will continue to keep an eye on the weather and will post updates on the APA! social media pages.
For more tips on building cold weather shelters for stray animals, click here.
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