Metro Animal Care and Control encourages safe pet ownership during approaching cold weather

Media Contact: Ashley Harrington, Metro Animal Care and Control, 615-862-7928

With cold and potentially snowy weather making an impact on the Nashville area this week, Metro Animal Care and Control (MACC) is reminding pet owners keep their pets' health and safety in mind. Cold temperatures can pose a serious threat to pets if proper measures are not taken. Additionally, icy and snowy conditions can bring additional challenges and hazards to pet owners.

Temperatures are expected to remain below freezing for an extended period of time. Pet owners should strongly consider bringing pets indoors when temperatures are uncomfortable. If bringing your outdoor pet inside is not an option, outdoor pets need a warm, solid shelter like a doghouse to keep them warm and protect them from the wind and the elements. The door of the shelter should point away from wind, and it is recommended you elevate the floor off the ground so their bedding will not get wet. Use straw or cedar shavings for their bedding, since blankets and towels can absorb water. Metro's tethering ordinance requires puppies and pregnant or nursing animals be brought inside when the temperatures are below freezing. Further recommendations for pets during periods of extreme weather can be found at Cold Weather Safety Tips for Pet Owners.

MACC Animal Control Officers will be working throughout the period of cold weather and ask for the public's help in keeping the community's animals safe. In the event a pet goes missing, there are steps and resources available to pet owners to try to locate their missing pet. Local Lost and Found Groups offer help in reuniting pets with their owners when they are found. The online community of volunteers that make up the lost and found groups help reconnect many families with their pets without a trip to the shelter. A list of Lost and Found groups can be found at Facebook Lost and Found Pets Groups.

In the event a pet is found by a neighbor or community member, there are steps the finder can take to help reunite the pet with their family before contacting MACC. Check the pet's collar for contact information. Found pets can also be posted to 24PetConnect.com under the "Reported Found" tab. The finder can also look through the "Reported Lost" tab to see if the found pet has been reported missing. Posting the found pet on Lost and Found Groups online can also help reunite the pet with their family. Flyers and posters can also be created to generate awareness of the found pet. Lost pets are often located near their home, making posters and flyers particularly useful. More recommendations for found pets can be found at Guidelines for Found Pets.

Animal Control Reports can be made online at Animal Control, Cruelty, and Complaints. MACC is the municipal shelter for Nashville and Davidson County. The shelter is located at 5125 Harding Place and is open for adoption, lost pet reclaims, and other community needs 12-4 p.m., 7 days a week.