Give 'em shelter
Since your friendly neighborhood editor is also a die-hard pet lover, this column has been a long time coming.
As the days grow shorter, the nights are getting colder. I, for one, love this weather — it's perfect for football, curling up on the couch with a mug of hot chocolate, and putting flannel sheets on the bed.
It's not good for outdoor pets.
Hillsboro seems to be a town full of animals, be they dogs or cats. But most of what I've seen roaming the streets are cats.
I'm sure you can identify with me.
Currently, there are no city regulations dealing with cat ownership. Not like the regs dealing with dogs, which specify that a dog must have tags, can't be roaming around, etc.
But some days, it seems like cats are everywhere.
And as the temperature dips into the 30s at night, it gets a mite chilly out there.
Now imagine if you were forced to sleep outside every night during the winter. No blankets, no shelter. Nothing to block the wind. You probably wouldn't like it very much.
When a cat or dog is forced to stay outdoors during the winter with no shelter, that's just cruel.
So take responsibility for your pets. Provide them a place to sleep during the cold weather, whether it's a dog house for your lab or a cat door to the garage for your persian.
Many local animal shelters try to help out pet owners during the winter. For example, the Caring Hands Humane Society in Newton gives out straw for animal bedding.
When it comes time to turn on your furnace so you don't freeze at night, don't forget about your furry friends.
— JENNIFER WILSON
