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Follow These Tips to Keep Your Pets and Livestock Safe During Severe Winter Weather

Keep Your Pets and Livestock Safe during Severe Winter Weather!

The forecast for the next several days in the High Country is far from pleasant. Watauga Fire Officials would like to address safety concerns for keeping your animals and livestock safe during severe winter weather.

When attempting to keep your pets warm and safe, consider the following:

  • Avoid using heating equipment (open flame devices, heat lamps, etc,) in or around combustible materials in barns and sheds.
  • When using heating equipment, place the equipment in non-animal accessible areas to avoid the potential for the equipment becoming knocked over or broken.
  • When using extension cords to power heating equipment or plugging in farm equipment, make sure the extension cord is rated for the intended use, and that it is not overloading an electrical system.
  • Experts say that merely keeping your animals out of the wind and dry, without the use of heating equipment, is considered safe practices during winter weather.

We understand the importance of keeping animals safe during winter weather, but make sure they are being protected in an appropriate and safe way!

 

Information provided by the Watauga County Fire Marshal/Emergency Management.