It’s time to batten down for winter already. Animals need extra protection from bitter temperatures and paralyzing winds.

If you have aging outdoor dogs, it would be prudent to bring them inside permanently. Geriatric animals have immune systems that aren’t as well equipped to do battle with germs the way they once did. Add short-haired dogs, puppies and kittens to the list. Left to their own devices, their chances of survival are slim and grim.

If you have feral cats in your neighborhood and don’t want to blow the whistle on them, provide them with a shelter, lots of warm water and good-grade cat food, both kibbles and canned, until spring thaw. Your kindness may mean the difference between life and death. Give them twice as much food as you would your indoor cats. If you bring a cat indoors to nurse him back to health, don’t plan on sending him out again. He probably won’t live. Cats have been known to crawl under the hoods of cars with warm engines and fall asleep. If you park outside, remember to thump the hood to warn them before you crank ‘er up.

Here are some other tips from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals:

Provide your outdoor dog with high-quality living arrangements, the next best thing to your own house. Doghouses should be only slightly larger than the dog. A snug fit will keep him cozy. Too much space and frigid winds will permeate his shelter. Insulate. Weatherproof plywood exterior panels are ideal for the outside walls. Line them with 1.5-inch sheets of Styrofoam. Hardboard or similar material is fine for interior paneling.

Make sure the house is portable, so you can move it to sunny spots throughout the year and turn the opening away from the prevailing wind. Paint the roof black, so it absorbs heat during the frigid months. Elevate it on concrete blocks to keep the floor dry, and be sure to insulate the floor as well.

For bedding, use wood chips, shredded newspaper or straw, but not blankets, because they retain moisture and will chill the animal.

Puppies should learn to live in a doghouse in the summertime, not in the fall or winter. They need time to acclimatize. It’s best to housebreak them in the warmer months. For obvious reasons, winter will make the task more difficult.

A dog can go from the outdoors to indoors with little fanfare, but the reverse would be anathema, and the dog would never truly adjust to living outside.

Most people are at least vaguely familiar with the dangers of antifreeze. It is a lethal substance to animals. Most dogs like the sweet taste and lap it up. They can inadvertently get a dose from spills in your garage, so make sure you clean up any dribbles.

Don’t let them eat ice-melting street treatments, either. To prevent accidental poisoning, purchase animal friendly products using propylene glycol rather than ethylene glycol. These are available at pet supply stores.

Remember to wash your dogs’ paws and tummy when they come in the house after a stroll in the snow or sleet.

Don’t let your dogs or cats roam off the leash even briefly during the winter. They can easily lose their scent and get lost. They should be wearing I.D. tags, too. The tags will save the day should one of them bound out the door when you’re not looking.

It’s a good idea to purchase a sweater for your short-haired dog. It should cover its belly underneath and their neck to tail on the top. Their fur is insufficient to protect them in frigid weather. Fragile dogs should go out only long enough to do their duty.

Never leave your animals in the car in the cold. The car is like a refrigerator, and your dog could freeze and die. Dogs that work and play outdoors should have a little extra food, protein in particular. This will help keep them healthy and their fur beautiful.

Give your indoor companion animals a warm bed away from drafts, a blanket and a pillow, or just snuggle a little bit closer.