Tips to keep you and your pets safe in the cold

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JACKSON, Tenn — “Homelessness in Jackson for those not sheltered is growing.” Fred Mckine with Area Relief Ministries said.

For ten years the Jackson Area Relief Ministries, also known as ARM, provides shelter for those less fortunate year round but especially during the winter months.

“We are averaging 12-15 guys this year. Last year we averaged 15 -20 guys. That number will probably increase to our regular number.” Mckine said.

Each day those men needing assistance report on Church Street to the ARM headquarters where they will check in and also be assigned a host church to sleep in through the night.

“Every night the churches take them back to their facilities, that’s where they eat and sleep and they bring them back here by 6 every morning.” Mckine said.

ARM provides a supply bag to each man with toiletries and fresh linens.

The bitter cold doesn’t just target humans but also our four legged friends.

“They are not designed to survive on their own in temperatures like we are experiencing right now.” Jackson Animal Control officer Whitney Owen said.

Owen says her department is seeing an increase in calls.

“We have had three or four picked up already in the last four or five days that have not survived the initial cold front.” Owen said.

She says keeping your furry friends safe is easy to do.

“A windproof dog doghouse with three sides, a floor and a roof. It gets them up out of the mud, out of the water and keeps them out of the wind, that helps a lot.” Owen said.

And don’t forget about your feline friends.

“Ten dollar Tupperware bin from Walmart, you an cut a hole in it, pack it full of blankets or hay, turn it upside down on your porch and your cats can get inside and out, they’re out of the wind, they’re warm.” Owen said.

Owen says if you can keep your animal out of the wind they have a better chance at surviving the cold.