Comments on: It never rains in California: winter care tips for SoCal dogs

By: Gina Spadafori

Gina Spadafori — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 14:03:05 +0000

Another thing CA (and other!) pet owners need to deal with is earthquakes, wildfires, floods, etc.

Comment by straybaby — January 12, 2009

True, true, true. Where I live, two historic rivers (the Sacramento and the American) are contained behind levees that haven’t exactly been carefully and well maintained over the decades (I’m with Obama: INFRASTRUCTURE, folks!).

Massive floods wiped out the city a couple times in its early days, and as late as 1986 we the pressure on the river levees was so strong that emergency planning officials actually considered blowing some levees and sacrificing one area to save the rest.

In any case, I have an emergency evacuation kits — crates, leashes, muzzles, food, bowls, litter, water, etc. ready and I always try to keep the van full of fuel, just in case.

Of course, like anyone else I really am careful about this after a disaster elsewhere or near-miss here. I got “religion” after Katrina. So … I think I add checking out and updating the emergency plan/supplies to my near-term to-do list.

By: Phyllis DeGioia

Phyllis DeGioia — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 13:59:48 +0000

But Kim, I *am* in the light that’s reflected off the piles of snow! Okay, many winter days are so dark you need the lights on, but that’s okay. I am now officially averse to heat and 80 degree days make me melt. Granted, this week’s scary subzero temps and frightening windchills are dangerous and no one’s idea of the good part of winter, but I do love it.

What I miss from California (besides friends and family) is the coast, ripe avocadoes, and the Los Angeles Times. I never miss the boring weather!

By: straybaby

straybaby — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 06:20:01 +0000

As a native who’s moving back at some point this year, I’ve been tracking the weather at my new location in the mountains there. They’ve been getting some good ol’ ski snow :) Not a yearly thing at the level I’ll be living at, but after about 20yrs here (NY), I think I can handle it ;) Dot loves a good romp in da snow!

Another thing CA (and other!) pet owners need to deal with is earthquakes, wildfires, floods, etc. So on top of the seasonal weather, I’d like to throw out the emergency preparedness angle :) No matter where you live, Mother Nature could visit. Please be prepared! Plan ahead and check what you need from basic essentials of food, first aid, and shelter (including weather wear) to “get the heck outta dodge plans”. Check with your local services as to what you need to evac with pets. What “papers” you need, carriers, etc and have a plan. I may not be in the CA mountains yet, but I do know how I want to handle an evac with 6 pets. Here in the NYC area, we get an instruction piece in the mail as to how we should be prepared with our pets in a weather (or other) emergency. The city came up with a plan before the Fed Gov did and it covers the particulars of living somewhere where everyone doesn’t have transport etc, so I would check with your local Gov on what their plans/requirements are :)

I also need to second the towels at the door and teaching the dog to “stay” and wait for “towel” time. My dog remembers more often than I do! I keep them there year round because of the weather here, and I have to laugh about how much more responsible she is than I. If you get into a routine at the door for a bit, you may just end up with a pup or 2 that has better house manners than you!