• Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Linkedin

Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service

Your neighborhood. Your News.

newsMilwaukee NNSMilwaukee NNSSearch
Subscribe to NNS today!
Advertisement
  • Home
  • News
    • Arts and Recreation
    • Community
    • Economic Development
    • Education
    • Health and Wellness
    • Housing
    • Public Safety
    • NNS Spotlight
    • Special Report
  • Posts From Community
    • Submit a Story
  • Community Voices
  • How To
  • Multimedia
    • NNS Local Video
    • Photos
    • NNS on Lake Effect
    • NNS WGLB 1560 Radio
  • Subscribe
  • Donate
  • About
    • Staff
    • Partners
    • News 414
    • The neighborhoods we cover
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service

Diederich College of Communication, Marquette University

You are here: Home / Home / Carousel / Cold weather takes a toll on animals

Cold weather takes a toll on animals

February 5, 2014 by Karen Slattery 1 Comment

Share this...
Share on Facebook
Facebook
Pin on Pinterest
Pinterest
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Share on LinkedIn
Linkedin
Claire, on the shoulder of MADACC’s Laura Nigbur, suffered cold-related injuries in January. (Photo by Karen Slattery)

Claire, on the shoulder of MADACC’s Laura Nigbur, suffered cold-related injuries in January. (Photo by Karen Slattery)

Claire is 19 months old and a survivor.  She made it through the frigid cold spell in Milwaukee last month, but just barely. A good Samaritan spotted her outdoors on Jan. 23 and called the Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Control Commission (MADACC).

The shelter dispatched an animal control officer to bring her to safety at the Commission’s 3839 W. Burnham St. building. There, she receives medical treatment because her ears were frozen. Claire is one of about 12,000 animals who find temporary housing in the county’s shelter each year, which is open to those who are abandoned, stray, neglected and mistreated.

The extreme cold in January did not lead to a greater influx of animals, according to MADACC spokesperson Laura Nigbur.  But she said more of those coming to the shelter needed medical attention.

Problems at this time of year, Nigbur said, range from hypothermia to frostbite to frozen or swollen footpads to burns.  The burns occur, she said, when stray animals go looking for heat. Jody Clemens, a practice manager at the Advanced Animal Hospital at 3374 W. Loomis Rd. in Greenfield, described the signs of frostbite.

Animals, like humans, struggle to stay warm in the winter cold snaps. (Photo by Karen Slattery)

Animals, like humans, struggle to stay warm in the winter cold snaps. (Photo by Karen Slattery)

“The animal’s skin turns gray and then red as it warms up,” Clemens said.  In severe cases, the tissue turns black and dies. She added that there are no home remedies for the problem. Claire arrived at the shelter exhibiting frostbite symptoms, according to Nigbur.  And her case is severe.  She has lost the tip of one ear and is in the process of losing the tip of the other. Clemens cautioned pet owners to be on the lookout for signs of exposure that can include behaviors not normally exhibited by pets.  Biting or licking extremities is one signal, while head shaking, and area redness and soreness are others.  A sick cat will often hide, she said.

Pets react to cold the same way humans do, but breeds differ in the amount of cold they can tolerate.  “Some dogs are bred for cold weather,” Clemens said.  A huskie might be able to stand 10 minutes or more of frigid temperatures while a chihuahua might last only two minutes.

“The rule of thumb,” said Mallory Kerley, a spokesperson for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, “is that if it is too cold for you, it is probably too cold for your pet.”

Kerly said that the ASPCA advocates that companion animals such as cats and dogs live indoors year round.  She said, “It doesn’t matter if the temperature is 20 below or 20 above, animals should be inside and protected from the elements.”

Claire is one of the lucky ones this winter.  Nigbur said animal control officers were unable to rescue all of the animals that needed help during the January cold. “A couple… were left outside too long so our control officers found them deceased,” said Nigbur.

When abuse or neglect is suspected, the agency will work with the police.  Penalties vary, according to Nigbur, depending on severity of injury and the owner’s intent. Nigbur pointed out that purchasing a license and having a computer chip implanted in a pet can help MADACC reunite lost animals with their owners. Meanwhile, no one has stepped forward to claim Claire, who is healing quite nicely, according to Nigbur.  She described the cat as curious, playful and often purring while she is held, all signs of a “well-socialized” animal. So, as is the case for most of the animals temporarily housed at the shelter, Claire, the brown-tiger colored cat, will soon be looking for a new home.

A warm one.

Share this...
Share on Facebook
Facebook
Pin on Pinterest
Pinterest
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Share on LinkedIn
Linkedin

Filed Under: Carousel, Community, Health and Wellness, Home, Neighborhoods, News Tagged With: cold weather, Community, madacc, pet, pets

Avatar

About Karen Slattery

Comments

  1. AvatarKathy Blei says

    February 13, 2014 at 8:31 am

    Where do I go to adopt Claire? She looks like she could be my cats sister.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Advertisement

Top Stories

Advertisement

How To …

How to avoid stimulus check scams

A new round of stimulus checks will likely also bring out a new round of scams. Here’s what to watch out for.

More "How To" articles

Advertisement

Recommended Reading

A Vaccine Reality Check

The Atlantic

UWM study on the state of Black Milwaukee describes the city as ‘the epitome of a 21st century racial regime’

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Videos Show How Federal Officers Escalated Violence in Portland

The New York Times

These mayors want to fight Covid-19 and the recession with one big idea: A guaranteed income

Vox

The World John Lewis Helped Create

The Atlantic

News

  • Arts and Recreation
  • Economic Development
  • Education
  • Health and Wellness
  • Housing
  • Public Safety
  • NNS Spotlight
  • Special Reports
  • Multimedia
    • NNS Videos
    • Photos
    • NNS on Lake Effect Radio

Engage with us

  • Posts from Community
  • Community Voices
  • Submit a Story

About NNS

  • Staff
  • Partners
  • News414
  • The neighborhoods we cover
  • Internship opportunities
  • Careers
  • Terms of use
  • Advertise

Connect with us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
  • RSS feed

Communities

Contact

mailing address
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Diederich College of Communication
Marquette University
1131 W. Wisconsin Ave.
Johnston Hall 430
Milwaukee, WI 53233

email
info@milwaukeenns.org

phone & fax
PHONE: 414.604.6397 FAX: 414.288.6494

Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service is a project of Diederich College of Communication and Marquette University.
© 2020 Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service. Terms of use.
1131 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee WI 53233 • info@milwaukeenns.org

Copyright © 2021 · News Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in