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An older Black woman in a puffy coat shovels a snowy driveway while a white Maltese sits half buried in a snowbank. 23 / 26

Grandma Odessa Shoveled for an Hour. Pearl Found a Better Use for the Snow.

AI imagemaltesesnow daywinter

Fresh snow blankets the yard, the fence, and every branch in sight. Grandma Odessa is bundled up in a navy puffer coat, green work gloves, and sturdy black boots, pushing a wide black shovel through the heavy powder on the walkway. A porch light glows by the side door, and the neighborhood looks hushed under the winter sky. Pearl, meanwhile, has decided that snow removal is not her department. She sits happily in the deep snowbank beside the path, so perfectly white that she almost disappears into it, except for her dark eyes and little black nose.

Winter weather calls for some extra care with small dogs. Maltese have a single coat without a dense undercoat, so they can get cold quickly, and a dog sweater or coat can help on frigid days. Snow can ball up between toes and in long leg fur, so trimming paw fur and wiping feet afterward makes outings more comfortable. Ice melt and road salt can irritate paws and may be harmful if licked, so rinsing feet after walks is a good habit, and pet-safe ice melt is available. Antifreeze is very toxic and tastes sweet to animals, so clean up any drips in driveways right away.

Pearl looks utterly delighted with her snowy seat, though she will probably be ready for a warm towel soon enough.

The driveway will get cleared eventually. In the meantime, it is hard to work fast when your helper looks this happy in the snow.

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