It’s bitterly cold in St. Louis, and more than 200,000 homes are without power after a recent ice storm. The governor has declared a state of emergency, the National Guard has been called in to help, and utility crews are here from across the country.

What about our pets? The Humane Society of Missouri has opened an Emergency Heating Center in St. Louis for pets whose owners are without power and do not have safe and warm lodging for their pets.

Five months ago, the Humane Society of Missouri opened a Cooling Center for pets. Temperatures soared to more than 100 degrees F and over 500,000 homes, many with pets, were without power.

These emergency shelters allow residents to take care of themselves as well. Many residents stated they would not go to a shelter unless their pets were taken care of.

If you need to take your pet to an emergency shelter:

• You may need proof of vaccinations. If you cannot locate these records, don’t give up. Ask the emergency shelter if your vet can fax the records or confirm vaccination over the phone. 
• Your pet should have a collar with current identification.
• Ask the shelter if they would like you to bring your pet’s crate. They may be very short on kennel space. 

What can you do to help?

• Encourage your area shelters to open similar emergency shelters if the need arises. Propose the idea now, before a crisis arises.
• Volunteer to assist shelter workers. They will need help to clean runs and walk dogs.
• Help get the word out to people and dogs in need.
• Are you in a dog club? Why not set up a program to take care of members’ pets if an emergency occurs? Those who are unaffected could house pets for members who are in need. 

Here are some cold weather pet tips from the Humane Society of Missouri.

Gift: Dog magazines are great Christmas presents for you or your dog-loving friends. Subscribe now and the first issue may arrive before the end of the year.

Below is a list of some of the most popular dog magazines, most of which can be found on the newsstand:

• AKC Gazette
• AKC Family Dog
• Animal Wellness
• Bark
• Dog Fancy
• Dog and Kennel
• Dog World
• Dogs for Kids
• Fido Friendly
• Modern Dog

Another popular publication is the Whole Dog Journal. WDJ is a journal, rather than a magazine. There are no ads; each page is pure content. You can receive a paper copy of the Whole Dog Journal via snailmail, or you may choose a digital subscription for a reduced rate. With the digital subscription, you can read the issue online, and download and save each issue on your computer to print or read later.

There are many magazines, not found on the newsstands, that are breed or sport-specific. Search online for those you might be interested in, or start at World Newspapers for a ready-made list of various dog magazines.

Share: Do you subscribe to dog magazines, read them once, and then throw them away? Why not give the magazines to a library, junior dog group (such as 4H), bring them to a club meeting, or give to friends.

Swap: Swap magazines with someone in another country for a different perspective. Are you on a dog forum or discussion list? Ask if anyone would like to swap magazines with you. To save money, send via media mail in the US and surface mail overseas. You package will take longer to arrive, but it’s much cheaper. It’s a good idea to waterproof your package. Put magazines in a plastic bag before wrapping them to mail.

Recycle: If you tear out pages you’re interested in and then discard your magazines, why not recycle them? Abitibi has many locations across North America, and they welcome magazines, catalogs and other slick paper.