Fat saves lives

This headline will probably have you scratching your head: "Dog frozen to sidewalk; fat helped it survive." A 120-pound border collie (considered obese by canine weight standards) was left outside by his owner in the Wisconsin winter weather. Local shelter workers poured warm water on the dog's back to aid in slowly removing him from the icy sidewalk. The shelter manager said the layers of fat on the dog may have been the reason for its survival. Fat insulates, thus keeping our muscles and internal organs warm and functional.

I obviously do not condone bulking up on layers of fat to stay warm on the way to work in the morning; instead, I support layering items of clothing, since we humans have that option and are not typically left outside by our loved ones. This is a horrible tale of animal cruelty, and I hope you remember to take care of your animals this season and every season. Just because they have extra layers of fat or fur doesn't mean they can withstand the harsh winter winds better than we can. Stay warm, and be thankful for your heating system!