The Humane Society of Missouri urges pet owners to bring your pets inside and exercise the utmost caution when exposing pets to the cold. Pets rely on their owners to help stay warm during cold weather. As a general rule: If it’s too cold for you, it’s too cold for your pets.

They offer the following tips:

 

BRING YOUR PET INSIDE: Don’t leave your pet outside in the cold for prolonged periods of time. Remember — thermometers might show one temperature, but wind chills can make it feel much, much colder. Limit time outdoors and be mindful of frostbite on ears, tail and paws. If you run with your dog, pay attention to cold paws and, if it gets too cold, leave your pup at home. Cats should always be left indoors — it’s the law in the City of St. Louis. “Outdoor” cats are often victims of road traffic, wilds animals, dogs and cruel people and freezing or starving to death in severely cold weather.

ACCLIMATE YOUR PET TO COLD WEATHER: If your pets spend a lot of time outdoors, make sure to introduce them gradually to dropping temperatures, rather than exposing them to the extreme cold all at once.

PROVIDE ADEQUATE SHELTER: Adequate shelter is mandated by law. If your dog lives outdoors, you must provide a well-insulated and draft-free doghouse. The opening should face south with a sturdy, flexible covering to prevent icy winds from entering. Line the floors of the shelter with straw, not hay. Towels and blankets can become damp or freeze, making the space colder.

BEWARE OF ANTIFREEZE AND ROCK SALT: Antifreeze often collects on driveways and roadways. Although it smells and tastes sweet to your pet, it is lethally poisonous. If you suspect your pet has ingested antifreeze, contact your veterinarian immediately! Deicing products like rock salt can irritate footpads. Be sure to rinse and dry your pet’s feet after being outside. Pet stores often carry pet-safe ice melts that do the job and won’t harm your pets.

DRY OFF WET PETS: A wet pet is a cold pet. Towel or blow-dry your pet if he gets wet from rain or snow. Also, it is important to clean and dry paws to prevent tiny cuts and cracked pads.

PROVIDE PLENTY OF FOOD AND WATER: It takes more energy in the winter to properly regulate body temperature, so your pet may need additional calories if he spends a lot of time playing or working outdoors. Your pet is just as likely to get dehydrated in the winter as in the summer, so be sure to provide plenty of fresh water. Snow is not a substitute for water. Refill outside bowls often to prevent freezing.

CAREFULLY KEEP PETS WARM INSIDE: Keep your pets warm, dry and away from drafts while inside. Space heaters and other supplemental heat sources can burn your pet. Keep portable heaters out of reach and make sure all fireplaces have adequate screening. And, of course, never leave your pet alone with an unattended fire.

GROOM REGULARLY: Your pet needs a well-groomed coat to keep him properly insulated. Short- or coarse-haired dogs might get extra cold so consider a sweater or a coat. Long-haired dogs should have their paw hair trimmed to ease in cleaning and snow removal.

Music at the Mansion, a benefit for the Arts Fund is planned Saturday, Dec. 6, from 1-6 p.m., at the historic Wyeth-Tootle Mansion, 1100 Charles St. The event, sponsored by St. Joe Live features eight local and regional acts ranging from country and bluegrass to jazz and alternative.

“Although our campaign doesn’t start until March, it’s nice when we get early contributions. This is a great way to kick start the campaign,” said Teresa Fankhauser, of the Allied Arts Counci.

This year’s full lineup includes:
– Dreamgirl (alternative/psychedelic six-piece)
– Hubcap Bandits (folk/rockabilly/country band)
– Ruth Acuff (harpist singer-songwriter)
– Under the Big Oak Tree (bluegrass band)
– Foxlin (alternative/experimental duo)
– Missouri Western jazz quintet (jazz ensemble)
– Jason Riley (guitarist extraordinaire)
– Matt Coman (alternative singer-songwriter)
– Dylan Russell (country singer-songwriter)

Admission is $3, free for News-Press Rewards members. Proceeds benefit the Arts Fund, which is the only unified fund drive, benefitting multiple arts organizations. This year’s funded non-profit agencies include Creative Arts Productions, Performing Arts Association, RiverSong, St. Joseph Community Chorus, Saint Joseph Symphony and the Allied Arts Council. You can also purchase your tickets in advance online at Eventbrite: .

Two stolen cars in two days have prompted a yearly warning from the Saint Joseph Police Department: don’t leave your car running to warm it up. Police Sergeant Jill Voltmer says someone drove off Tuesday morning in a car warming up near 28th and Jules. Monday morning it happened near 30th and Lafayette.

Voltmer says every year as it gets colder we get a rash of car thefts like this. She says people often start their cars and leave them running, doors unlocked. But even locking your car is not enough because a thief only has to break a window to get in and drive off. Voltmer says it’s “easy pickings.”

Sergeant Voltmer  says the only safe way is to use a remote start. Or do it the old fashioned way: don’t start it until you’re ready to drive it.

A northern Missouri man will serve ten years in federal prison for his child pornography conviction. Nicholas Alex Dickinson, 32, of Newtown, Missouri, was sentenced Monday in federal court in Kansas city.

On June, Dickinson pleaded guilty to receiving child pornography over the Internet, attempting to distribute child pornography over the Internet and possessing child pornography. Dickinson admitted that he used a peer-to-peer file-sharing program to collect and share child pornography over the Internet.

In July of 2012 a detective in Kirksville began an investigation into the downloading of child porn files from a list of computers identified by Internet Crimes Against Children investigators. Law officers executed a search warrant at Dickinson’s home in May, 2013.

Officers seized a laptop computer, an external hard drive and other computer media during their search. A forensic examination of the computer and computer media determined that Dickinson had saved more than 7,000 images and/or video files of child pornography, in addition to more than 5,000 animation/cartoon files depicting child pornography, more than 2,000 images of child erotica (modeling images), 67 “naturist” videos, four images and two videos of minors depicting bestiality and/or bondage and four documents of written stories related to sexual activity involving children.