(felt like -41 with the wind chill) My big dog has so much energy lately, I'll be glad when we can get out for more than ten minute walks. I think it's supposed to warm up a bit tomorrow. I actually feel terrible though, I spread the word around that a stray dog who'd been more-or-less trying to adopt us and who I found did have an owner, but who'd been sleeping under a little trailer in my yard (I saw him come out early one cold morning) might need a home. I think the owner was mad, embarrassed and ......... got rid of the dog somehow - nobody seems to know, and he hasn't been seen lately at all. His owner is not known for being a very nice person. I didn't know who it was, I'd have at least called him to ask if he wanted to give him away, or something ... anything. My Obie loved the little guy, my cat hated him, but he slept at my feet getting warmed up for a few hours a day. Yes, please keep your pets in.

call your local SPCA. It may not make for the best neighbour-neighbour relationship, but might save a life.

The thing is, everyone in town but me, it seems, knew who his owner was, and the little guy was sleek, shiny and looked very well-fed, so I just assumed he'd been going home every night, until the morning I saw him come out from under the trailer when it first started getting cold. He was used to coming in all summer and rough-housing with my dog and getting a treat, I had no clue where he was coming from but he was no bother. The cutest, smartest looking little border collie. His owner (now that I know who it is) is a known bully here, a fuel thief among other things, and I bet my asking so many people made him pretty angry. He has no home phone number that I can call to ask, and nobody seems to talk to him, or want to, anyway .. I wish every time I think about him I'd called the SPCA instead.

in the backyard.....and I offered to take him 3x a day with mine. He's out there until he drops. I tried to explain to the owners the efficacy of exercise, but they would have none of it.n

Since I work long hours myself, I must trust people who stick my old, sick dog outside to relieve itself, and then forget about her. With no garage back-door opened, for at least minimum shelter against the wind. (GASP! It'll get cold in our unheated, uninsulated garage!?!?!) They're trying to save pennies, while a sentient being may suffer. You cannot re-train mindsets that lack empathy.

I have arrived at the same conclusion, altho I fought it.

I absolutely adore her, and she came to me as a starving stray. You could practically see through her when she first started to come around. I built her a shelter that first winter - and if I hadn't, she likely wouldn't have made it through that winter.

Now? She is fat, glossy and lives inside 90% of the time. Whoever put her out did me a favor, because she is the apple of my eye. I wouldn't take any amount of money for my little darling.

Thank you for posting.

but I've been listening to the wind the last few hours. It' howling something furious.

It's still in the 40s out, but that's not going to last...

I made a couple similar ones a few years back, and they took to it right away. Heated water bowls are also a must.



Directions for making can be found at linked page.

http://www.erubbermaid.com/roughneck-homes?mid=57

Edit to add; that locally a bundle of straw costs about 5 bucks, and vastly exceeds ones needs. Use the left over ((most of it), to insulate your gardens). Its all compost-able anyway.

out of pieces of styrofoam under a table. It was easily 20 degrees ambient warmer in her little shelter, and she had blankets and a bed, too, for extra warmth. She had room to move around, was warm and it was next to the house, too.

She lived under the round plastic table all winter, and then, when we were hit with a mild hurricane, she discovered indoor living and hasn't left since LOL!

and a couple of feral kitties sleep there. But think I'll dump out the Halloween decorations in one container up in the attic and attempt this. May use a copy paper box and a quilted moving blanket for the insulation. Thanks for posting!

is that it will retain moisture, and get moldy. Maybe your neighbor can spare a couple handfuls of straw.

To keep from having to buy a whole bale, I went to a nearby feed store and offered to sweep up the area they used for storage. I was able to gather up a trashbag full.

Good luck with your feral fur balls. The ones that have allowed me to get near them turned out to be so open to affection. My sweet Scarlet died last month, and while she never let me touch her, she knew that she would be safe, warm, and well-fed in my backyard.

so I didn't cut up the blanket. I did a quickie one with plastic container, copy paper box, and old towels. I'll replace it with suitable material; just wanted to do something quick for the blast coming our way. 13 degrees tomorrow night -- poor kitties! I took a big bag of cat food to my neighbor today and the kayaks are all ready.

We had freezing temps last week, but not so cold here in SoCal right now. But a kick as thanks for the reminder for places that will need it.

n/t

& recommend!!

Heck, he can't get back inside quick enough when I took him out this morning.

and your dog

My cat can't seem to get close enough to me.

I've heard they are good swimmers.

This breed was created to rescue fishermen/sailors if they fell overboard.

They adore water.

hoping to get to Boston tomorrow...but I won't drive in a snowstorm...

It was -13 below zero when I left for work this morning, and that is not even including the wind chill.

My neighbors are horrible and there is no enforcement of any animal cruelty laws where I live. There is nothing I can do to get them to take care of their animals better. I pretty much just help any animal that I see that seems like it needs anything, including the wildlife.

In Minneapolis it's -5°F
Feels Like -22°
Mostly Cloudy

Right now according to weather.com

Welcome back winter, old friend.

He likes the cold! My other cats will have no trouble staying inside.

are full all the time, but tonight it will freeze so hard they won't have water unless it's heated. We have bodacious numbers of birds in our yard and they graciously have many healthy babies for us to watch over. We always feel like angels.

Stocked up this weekend on bird seed in anticipation of the subzero predictions.

But I appreciate your sentiment for our furry friends. Again, thanks for sharing.

the wind is really howling.

I have one of these K&H 9000 Ice Eliminator BirdBath 50-Watt De-Icer (you also need a heavy duty outdoor extension cord) in my flat on the ground birdbath. I'm not sure they'd stay in a conventional pedestal birdbath, but I haven't had one of the latter since the concrete bowl fell off and caused a tragedy; never again.

It's supposed to drop to -25 F tonight in northern Maine with wind chills of -49F. If my cats aren't in the house by the time I go to bed, there may be two new candidates of the Feline Darwin Awards by morning.

- opposite problem - most of the year it's too warm here (I have to get up at 5 to give them a decent walk here in the summer).

For us it's also cold now and I've already brought in the plants because we will likely get a hard freeze later in the week.

PEACE!

argh.

Water freezes pretty quickly so we bring some over every day.

It's cold with snow and ice everywhere here in Upstate NY.

Damn, last night walking the dog just as the sun was going down and bundled up to the eyes I think my whole head froze. Took me a good 15 minutes after getting home before I could even feel my bum again, and I was wearing my longjohns! The wind has been EVIL. At least that seems to have calmed down some so it's not howling and squeeling around the corner of the house anymore.

Earlier Monday I was doing poopy patrol in the yard with the plastic bag for picking up on my hand, and the wind tore it right off and blew it up over the roof. By now it's probably half way to China. Every hour or so if the dog is out (he LOVES this weather!) I have to bash apart the ice that forms on the top of his water bowl.

The air in the house is so dry my clothes are clutching me, and my hair is either standing on end or trying to eat my whole face.