Milford, IA (northwestiowanow.com) — The extreme cold is hard on our animals and pets, and Amanda Jackson from the Humane Society of Northwest Iowa in Milford says some of the products used during cold weather are hazardous.

She says to clean animals’ paws after walking through salt, as it can be poisonous, and try to find paw-safe salt if possible.

As for outdoor pets…

And if you find an animal lost or hurt in the cold…

You can find more tips and ways you can help local animals at the Humane Society of Northwest Iowa website, and they are always looking for warm fuzzy blankets and food donations this time of year.