TurfMutt Offers Winter Weather Tips

Listen to this article

As snow and ice storms hit this winter, environmental superhero and real-life rescue dog, TurfMutt, urges everyone to “bone up” on wise wintertime practices to keep everyone safe during snow and ice removal and times of falling temperatures.

First, when Old Man Winter comes calling, TurfMutt reminds everyone that pets feel the cold as easily as humans despite their fur coats. Reduce outdoor activities when temperatures dip low and keep them inside during severe weather.

Remember: in most jurisdictions, homeowners are required to clear sidewalks and walkways in the event of a snowstorm. When using a snow thrower to clear driveways and sidewalks, keep kids and pets away from the equipment.

“Snowthrowers make quick work of an arduous task so everyone can go about ‘their business’,” said Kris Kiser, president and CEO of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute and TurfMutt’s guardian and rescuer. “But remember never to put your hand in the chute or auger to clear a blockage. Always use a clean-out tool.”

Once sidewalks, driveways and other outdoor areas are cleared and useful again, remember that pets require special care in freezing temperatures.

TurfMutt’s Pet-Friendly, Wise Winter Tips:

• Forgo pet haircuts and let winter coats protect them against the elements.
• Check ears, paws and tails for signs of frostbite or getting raw from ice and snow.
• Wipe down your pet’s belly, legs and paws to remove ice-melting chemicals, which can irritate and cause serious illness if licked or swallowed.
• Change your antifreeze. Due to the sweet smell and taste, pets will lick or drink antifreeze if found puddled on sidewalks or garage floors, but anti-freeze is toxic to cats and dogs. Clean up spills and consider using a brand made from propylene glycol instead.
• Keep the water flowing; dry winter weather can be dehydrating, not to mention freezing. Break up ice in your pet’s water bowl and be sure they have regular access to clean, fresh water.

“After I rescued Lucky, a.k.a TurfMutt, from an Indiana highway years ago, he donned his superhero cape and has worked hard to ‘paw it forward’ by issuing seasonal tips regularly,” Kiser said. “Every pet can be a TurfMutt hero, but only if we keep them safe and happy during all kinds of weather.”

The TurfMutt environmental education and stewardship program was created by the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute’s (OPEI) Research and Education Foundation and has reached more than 62 million children, educators and families since 2009. Through classroom materials developed with Scholastic, TurfMutt teaches students and teachers how to “save the planet, one yard at a time.”

In 2017, TurfMutt will once again appear on the Lucky Dog show, and TurfMutt’s personal home habitat will be featured in the 2017 Wildlife Habitat Council calendar. The TurfMutt program will debut the first-ever National TurfMutt Teacher Award this spring and send one lucky teacher to the National Science Teachers’ Association (NSTA) annual conference. An elementary school will win a $10,000 grant in the annual “Be a Backyard Superhero” contest, and thousands of children in grades K-5 will learn science and how to take care of the environment.

TurfMutt is an education resource at the U.S. Department of Education’s Green Ribbon Schools, the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Green Apple, the Center for Green Schools, the Outdoors Alliance for Kids, the National Energy Education Development (NEED) project, Climate Change Live, Petfinder and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.