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.

Are you looking for just the right gift card or certificate for your favorite dog person? Here are some ideas:

• Dog massage. This is especially great for performance dogs or senior dogs, with veterinary okay. Ask for references from your veterinarian, performance dog owners, or human massage/physical therapists.
• Pet first aid class at your local Red Cross.
• Puppy, obedience, rally, or agility class.
• Playday at doggy day care.
• Set up a credit for your recipient at his or her veterinarian.
• A sitting with a pet photographer

Gift cards or certificates from the services below are always appreciated: 

• Petsmart or Petco
• Dog supply catalogs, such as Sit Stay.com and Foster and Smith.
• Local dog bakeries and boutiques
• Favorite dog groomer or kennel

I was standing outside on a cold, clear winter evening last year, waiting for Dash to potty one last time before bed. I was looking up at the night sky when I saw the owl. It freefell from an old hickory tree, extended its wings and swooped silently toward my unsuspecting puppy.

I ran toward my dog, yelling, and waving my arms to scare off the predator. The owl smoothly changed direction and flew up into another tree. I picked up Dash and headed for the safety of the house.

This owl could have easily carried away my tiny corgi. After that experience, I searched the bare trees for owls with a strong flashlight when we went out at night.

I had no idea there were such large owls in this dense suburban area. Since that night, I have witnessed several hawks snatch birds from our feeder, and racoons waddling across the yard at night. A nearby friend lost her cat to a fox. My veterinarian’s family nearly lost their dog to a coyote.

Please watch out for your small dogs and cats. Pets over ten pounds are generally safe from birds of prey, but may still be at risk if you have coyotes.

As we are taking over more and more undeveloped land, many owls, hawks, fox, coyotes are forced to look for food in the suburbs. Food is most scarce during the winter, so you may notice them more during this time. However, a staff member of the Wild Bird Center told me, “They’re there all year. You may not see them, but they see you.”