This is for anyone who still has their pets outside. You may or may not already have snow in your area but we certainly do.

Although this may look pretty, please consider the temperture outside as this is what your animals are living in. We took our digital thermometer outside last night and measured a staggering -10.2° C. At his temperature, your animals water in their bottle/bowl would have frozen over 10° ago, making it impossible for them to get any fluids. Also the food you give to your animals will be as solid as rock at this temperature.

Moving onto the small animals themselves, unless you have some kind of heater in the hutch/cage with them, the only source of heat in their hutch will be the animals themselves. As you can imagine this will put a massive strain on the animals body, trying to keep itself warm enough. This would be like you trying to heat your house with your body heat alone.

Also, can you make yourself go out to care for your animals in the well below freezing, snowy conditions?

Here is a quick check to see how cold it really is..... Stand outside in your normal indoor clothes for 30 seconds and see how cold you feel. Now put on your coat, gloves, scarf, what ever you can find to keep you warm. Then go back outside and stand there for 30 minutes and see how cold you get. Now consider that your animals will be outside in that same temperature 24 hours a day, with only their hair/fur to keep their body heat in.

All it takes is a little effort to make enough space in your nice warm house, and a little effort to move their hutch/cage inside. You can be sure your animals will be very greatful, and you may well be saving a life or 2.

Thank you for reading

Kind regards

Everyone at Popcorn Paradise Animal Rescue