"All that is required for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing." - Edmund Burke

Indiana (January 26, 2008) - With the unforgiving Indiana winter having tightened its grip around us, animals across the State are depending on us to help them avoid suffering and dying in the cold. Each of us has a responsibility to not turn a blind eye to animals suffering in our communities. Below are 5 simple steps you can take to help your pets - as well as forgotten pets in your community - survive winter's wrath.

Keep Your Pets INDOORS, And Encourage Your Friends And Neighbors To Do The Same. Outdoor animals can freeze to death, suffer frostbite, become lost or stolen, become injured by another animal, be hit by a car, or be exposed to infectious diseases. Cats are especially at risk, as they often sleep under hoods of cars to keep warm, and wind up injured or killed. The solution is simple: keep your pets indoors.

REPORT Neglect If You See An Animal Suffering In Winter Weather. If you believe an animal is being neglected in the winter weather and not receiving adequate care, please contact your local animal control facility and/or authorities. In Marion County, for example, call the Mayor's Action Center at 317-327-4622, 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., Mon. - Fri., and for after hours emergencies, call the police dispatch line at 317-327-3811. To report animal neglect in other parts of Indiana, visit www.indiana-paw.com for a list of numbers. If you need help encouraging someone to improve the quality of life for their outdoor dog, please contact FIDO, a local group working to help outdoor dogs. If you'd like to donate time, money, and/or supplies to help Indiana's neglected outdoor dogs, click here.

PROVIDE Extra Support For Outside Pets. If you MUST have your pets outside (and Indiana-PAW STRONGLY discourages this), please take appropriate precautions for their safety. Provide a heated or insulated shelter that is elevated off the ground and lined with cedar shavings or straw. Provide additional food for warmth, a heated water bowl, and a plastic flap covering the door of the doghouse. Encourage neighbors with outdoor pets to do this as well.

Antifreeze Is DEADLY. Keep your animals away from antifreeze, because it is lethal, even in tiny doses. It has a sweet smell that attracts animals, so wipe up any spills. If you suspect your pet has ingested antifreeze or another poison, seek IMMEDIATE vet treatment (visit www.indiana- paw.com for a list of 24-hour vets), or call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center's 24-hour hotline at 888-426-4435.

IDENTIFICATION Is Critical. Make sure your animal - whether an indoor or outdoor pet - has a tag with your phone number AND a microchip. More animals are lost during the winter than ANY other season, as they lose their scent in the snow. Identification is your pet's ticket home! Visit www.indiana-paw.com for a list of low-cost microchip options.

Remember the Edmund Burke quote: "All that is required for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing." We each have a responsibility to our community's animals, and to procure assistance for neglected animals, particularly during the deadly cold. Turning a blind eye to their suffering is not an option.

Thank you from all of us at Indiana-PAW,