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It's cold out there!!! I know line from 'Groundhog's Day' is a little too early in the season, but it's true for most of the people on the East Coast.  The same is true for pets too.  So, here's a few tips on keeping pets in the winter from the Humane Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

•Keep your cat inside if you can.  Cats can freeze, become lost or stolen, injured or killed if left outdoors.

•During the winter, outdoor cats sometimes sleep under the hoods of cars.  When the motor is started, the cat can become injured or killed by the fan belt.  To avoid death or injury, bang loudly on the car hood before starting the engine.

•Never let your dog off the leash on snow or ice.  Dogs can lose their scent and easily become lost.  More dogs are lost during the winter than during any other season, so make sure yours always wears ID tags.

•Thoroughly wipe off your dog’s legs and stomach when he comes inside from sleet, snow or ice.  Road salt can be dangerous to animals.

•Never shave your dog down to the skin during winter because a longer coat will provide more warmth.

•Never leave your dog or cat alone in a car during cold weather. A car can act as a refrigerator in the winter holding in the cold and causing the animal to freeze to death.

•Puppies do not tolerate the cold as well as adult dogs and may be difficult to train in the winter.  You may opt to paper-train him inside.

You can read more tips on keeping animals in the winter at: http://www.humanesc.org/services/humane-education/animal-care.htm