Each winter presents us with the challenge of staying warm. Whether it's bundling up to go outside, or cranking the heat in our homes, fighting the cold can be an ongoing struggle.
But just as hard as it is for us to stay warm, it can be just as difficult for our canine friends. Short-haired dogs without big coats of fur are often left to shiver without any way to warm themselves.
Luckily, one amazing animal shelter is doing something about it.
The workers and volunteers at animal shelters can be very creative with how they assist animals, like this Ohio shelter that held a pet adopt-a-thon.
And the workers at the Washington County Animal Shelter in Tennessee have decided to pull out all the stops when it comes to keeping their canine residents warm this winter.
This incredible facility in Johnson City has come up with a clever way to prevent their dogs from freezing this winter while they wait for loving forever homes.
Scroll through to see just how brilliant and inspiring people can be when it comes to protecting our animals.
h/t The Dodo/Johnson City Press
The Washington County Animal Shelter has run into a problem regarding its short-haired canine residents as the temperature outside begins to drop: how to keep them warm. Luckily, the brilliant minds at the center have come up with a great solution.
The workers are calling for donations of sweaters from the general public, that can be transformed into doggie sweaters. These sweaters are not meant to serve as 'canine fashion,' but rather to keep the dogs protected from the cold while they await adoption.
Shelter director Debbie Dobbs told the Johnson City Press that in early winter, the shelter doors have to remain open with fans running constantly, as the overuse of heaters can increase the spread of viruses among the animals. 'During the real cold months of the winter, we'll be shutting the doors and turning the heat on.'
However, the workers make sure that they keep the temperature appropriate for as many of the animals as possible. Debbie said, 'We go by creature comfort, not by human comfort.' Unfortunately, the low temperatures that shaggier dogs may find comfortable, and that help to prevent the spread of disease, may prove too much for the short-haired pups.
The call for sweaters from the community has been met with resounding success. But there is always a need for more. One staffer told the Dodo, 'We never have enough of the bigger sweaters, so we can use any amount of them.'
The Dodo reports that the average human sweater can be used to create three doggie sweaters. However, with around 100 residents at any given time, the need for a constant flow of materials is quite necessary.
Debbie told the Johnson City Press that the dogs 'tear them up; they shred them, and if there's more than one dog in there, they play tug of war with them.' Because the doggie sweaters go through quite a bit of wear and tear, the demand for more remains high.
In spite of the need for more, this brilliant program for sweater donations has been highly successful. Many of the canine residents are now able to stay warm all day, especially when they go outside to play in the shelter's play area.
And because not every animal lover has the ability to adopt a new pet, these donations allow those folks to still help out in a very significant way.
The Washington County Animal Shelter truly is an inspiration in its devotion to caring for their animals. And this brilliant idea will hopefully spark other shelters around the world to call on their communities for donations of warm clothing as well.
These sweater donations truly are making a difference in the lives of these animals, as they wait for someone to come along and give them a good home.
Will you be donating a sweater to your local animal shelter? Let us know in the comments.
Please SHARE if you believe dogs deserve to be as comfortable as people!
