ROCKFORD — Armando Sanchez Jasso walks his Corbin Street neighborhood even when temperatures plunge below zero degrees.
He’s also been calling local animal care services when he thinks dogs don’t have proper shelter.
Care for Pets, a nonprofit organization whose mission is pet welfare, knows about Sanchez Jasso and routinely supplies him with hay bales so he can share the hay with neighborhood pet owners struggling to provide warm bedding for their pets in the cold.
Otherwise, Sanchez Jasso said he feels “terrible” and stands with a broken pet-loving heart for the animals he sees in pain.
“He gets sad,” said his daughter Eryn, 13.
Thursday was the fourth consecutive day of subzero temperatures, not including windchill factors, according to the National Weather Service in Romeoville. Area shelter and rescues are fielding more calls from pet owners not knowing how to weatherproof their dogs, cats and other pets. They say there has been an uptick in calls but not necessarily an increase in the number of animals they've taken in.
“They’re thrilled and thankful," said Stephanie Hicks, Care for Pets’ executive director, of those who receive free hay bales. “They are grateful. They are thankful. They do want to provide a warm space for their pets."
Hicks invites pet owners to mark Jan. 6 as the date when they can pick up free hay and food. Microchipping also should be free. A location has not been selected.
Until then, there are plenty of things pet owners can do to keep their pets safe. For dogs, local authorities suggest extra food and water, straw and hay for protection and keeping them out for no longer than 5, 10 and 15 minutes.
For cats, they advise snapping car hoods firmly so strays seeking warmth don’t get caught underneath and die from fan belts moving to a revving engine.
Winnebago County Animal Services Adoption Coordinator Donna Apgar said she recently had to transport a 2-year-old tabby cat named Kevin, so she warmed up the car and covered the carrier for protection against the cold.
She asked everyone to look out for pets and to call animal service agencies when they notice what looks like a stray.
“Don’t assume that the pet is abandoned,” Apgar said. “Assume that the pet is lost and belongs to somebody.”
Alpacas have thick coats but even they need more shelter than usual.
“They got to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day going in and out (of the barn),” said Vicki Donley, who cares for about 40 alpacas at the Alpaca Pines Farm in Poplar Grove.
The Animal Clinic of Poplar Grove has been getting more calls than normal about how to protect pets when the cold arrived.
Veterinarian Ali Naqvi said pets shouldn't spend more than five minutes outdoors when it's 5 and 10 degrees below zero.
He also advises to remove evidence of frostbite with lukewarm water.
Karen Herdklotz, founder and director of “Hoo” Haven Wildlife Rehabilitation & Education Center, has about 80 animals that she provides with warm shelter that includes netting, a heated lamp and a heated water bowl.
She also gives them extra food.
“Obviously, they spend a lot more energy,” she said. “You have to increase their caloric intake.”
Susan Vela: 815-987-1392; svela@rrstar.com; @susanvela
Tips to keep your animal safe
• Keep homes humidified.
• Towel dry pets once inside, paying special attention to feet and in-between the toes.
• Don't shave dogs down to the skin in winter.
• Take towels on long walks to clean off paws.
• Bathe pets rarely during cold spells.
• Massage petroleum jelly or other paw protectors into paw pads before going outside to help protect from salt and chemical agents.
• Clean up antifreeze spills.
• Pets burn more energy when trying to stay warm in wintertime. Feed them more often.
• Pets should have warm places to sleep, off the floor and away from all drafts.
• Don’t leave pets alone in cars during cold weather.
Source: American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals