NEWS & LIFE
RhodyPets: SNOW DAYS FOR DOGS Simple precautions keep your pup prancing through the snow By Belinda Jones, Animal Rescue Rhode Island
RHODY PET OF THE MONTH: CHARLIE Playful German Shepherd seeks experienced home
Attention German Shepherd lovers! Meet Charlie. This young boy is still very much a puppy. Just shy of a year old, this handsome dog is very playful and smart, too. He’s a little nervous with strangers at first meeting, but once he feels comfortable, he’s a sweet boy. Charlie is best suited to an experienced dog owner who can continue to show him the ropes. His dream home has a fencedin backyard where he can run and play; it’s so much fun to watch him go! If you have been searching for a boy like Charlie, you should meet him – he might just be your true forever friend! Learn more at HeartofRI.org or contact at 401-467-3670 or heartofriadoption@gmail.com. If you have been looking to adopt or know of an animal in need, please contact Karen from Animal Talk directly at animaltalk1920@gmail.com
Dogs and snow seem like a picturesque combination – snowflake-dusted noses, and paws leaving a “follow me” trail of prints across shimmering blankets of white, but there are a few things to consider before you go walking in a winter wonderland. THAT’S NO SNOW CONE
Many dogs enjoy an impromptu sidewalk slushie, chomping at the refreshing ice, but make sure they are not lapping up any swirls of blue or green, especially around cars and driveways – antifreeze is sweet-tasting but toxic to pets. Scattered rock salt can also upset your dog’s stomach; they can accidentally ingest this grit
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by licking their paws clean after a walk. Simply wipe off their feet with a soft towel before stepping back into the house. The action will also help warm their chilly paw pads. SNOW BOOTS
Speaking of keeping those tootsies toasty, dog booties are a great option for warmth and pro tection. But pups often do an awkward prance on the first wear, finding it hard to find their footing without their natural sensor y contact with the ground. One way around this is to pop on the leash and break into a little trot so their instinctive rhythm overrides their confusion or initial discomfort.
WAX ON, WAX OFF
You wouldn’t be without your lip balm or hand cream in the winter, so soothe (or better yet, prevent) nose and paw dr yness and cracking with all-natural moisturizer, like a nose and paw moisturizer specifically formulated for dogs and cats. Apply a light layer and gently massage until absorbed. MARK THE SPOT
Some dogs are war y about exploring a yard buried deep in snow, especially when the drifts are deeper than they are tall. Queer Eye’s Jonathan Van Ness recently modeled the solution for his little terrier Elton by Hey Rhody FEBRUARY 2022 |
HeyRhody.com
Photo by Karen Kalunian
By Karen Kalunian
