Seasons
When you venture out in the snow, invest
in cold-weather gear that will keep you
warm and comfortable. THINKSTOCK
water, food, first aid kit, collar and leash
• Deck the Halls: Be sure your decorated
home is safe for pets. Pick up Christmas
stockings, trays of festive food and baking
chocolate. Candy, gum and Poinsettias are
toxic for pets. Resist the temptation to feed
your pet holiday food. Instead, have animalfriendly treats on hand.
• Dashing Through the Snow: Shovel a
path with a large enough packed-down area
where your pet can sniff, circle and relieve
itself.
• City sidewalks: Don’t walk your pet on
newly salted surfaces. Salt can blister paws. A
petroleum product called Musher Secret will
protect paws.
• Here We Come A-Wassailing: Visit a
dog park so your pet can socialize and play.
McClelland Park, the Humane Society of
Northwestern Pennsylvania, and Horstman &
Sons Country Store provide safe areas where
your dog can romp in the snow with other
canine friends.
• Oh Christmas tree: Be sure to firmly
secure your holiday tree with a stable base
and/or cords so your tree-climbing cat or
energetic dog can’t pull it down.
• Don We Now Our Gay Apparel: Shelter
your pet during a brisk outside walk with warm
layers to ward off the chill.
• Jack Frost Nipping at Your Nose: Converse reminds us that animals can get frostbite
too. Be sure to check the temperature and wind
chill factor before venturing out with your pet
for a cruise around the neighborhood. She also
reminds pet owners to check the water and
food supply daily of outdoor pets/neighborhood strays to replace frozen water with fresh.
THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR
Erie resident and outdoor sports enthusiast
Jen Porco didn’t always get this excited about
venturing outside to face off with the brutal
winter weather conditions where she lived.
“When my husband Tim and I moved here
from Cleveland in 1997, we were determined
to find ways to meet the extreme winter
weather head-on by finding outside activities,” she explains.
A sunny February afternoon beckons the
Porcos to hit the cross-country trails at Peek'n
Peak or Asbury Woods Nature Center on an
adventure of captivating beauty in the wilds of
nature.
“I love to hear the swoosh of skis as we wind
our way through the woodland terrain,” says
Porco. “It’s so peaceful and quiet. I love these
moments, especially if it’s snowing.”
Husband Tim has been downhill skiing since
childhood and, with his encouragement, they
began a weekly regimen of Friday night skiing
at Peek'n Peak, lessons included.
“I fell in love with it,” Porco says. The rush
of the wind, the speed, the pure exhilaration of
plummeting down snow-packed hills won her
over.
“It can be 5 degrees out,” Porco laughs, “and
if we’re dressed appropriately, we’re warm and
firing down those hills until close.”
Last year, the Porcos invested in Trek fat tire
bikes and now regularly ride at Scott Park or at
Presque Isle State Park. Four inches of snow,
ice, or darkness a problem? “Nope,” Porco
laughs. “Headlamps and bike lights are key.
We cycle right on through the day into night.”
With characteristic determination and grit,
Porco has embraced the challenge of learning to love Erie winters and has discovered a
winter wonderland of fun and adventure. LEL
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