Photos: From puppies to camels, animals enjoy a good snow

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After a massive blizzard hit the northeast, photographer Mia Orsatti says she spent the next day photographing her neighbors and their pets digging out of more than 30 inches of snow in Hamden, Connecticut.

When the blizzard receded in Limerick, Maine, Douglas Corrigan went out to check on his flock of Icelandic sheep. He says they seemed perplexed when he found them in their barn, surrounded by three feet of snow. He spent hours clearing a path for them so they could get some exercise.

Shooty the corgi motors through a foot of snow in Greenbrier, Arkansas. "Sometimes we couldn't see him because it was so deep," said Brent Smithson, who shot this photo December 26.

When heavy snowfall hit Seville, Ohio, on the day after Christmas, Matthew Platz headed to local farms to capture animals in the snow. "I had been waiting for our first good snow of the year to get out and capture all the natural beauty in our area," he said.

These alpacas in Unity, Maine, love the snow! "They can get quite excited in new snow and...race as a herd about the pasture," said Pamela Wells, who shot this photo December 30. "The yearlings, in particular, like to run close together, and engage in a behavior called pronking; jumping up off the ground to show happiness." Wells says the alpacas' fleecy fur is even warmer than wool.

Jimmie, a 10-month-old orange tabby, enjoys his first snow on Christmas Day. "He is totally fearless," says Judy Evans of Fort Worth, Texas. "His little eyes were full of wonder just as a child's first snow would be!"

Camels trek through a blanket of snow in Mongolia on December 30. Inga Lukaviciute captured this photo while horseback riding. "We were riding horses in the snow-covered steppes and spotted the camels lying down in the distance. One of our guides took off on his horse to herd the camels closer," she said. "I was in awe. The camels came running closer to us and around us. It was very unreal."

Mia, a 5-year-old Samoyed, races across a frozen lake in Hudson, Quebec, in this shot taken by Sean McAllister on January 20.

Another of Matthew Platz's farm shots from Ohio. "I love it when it snows...makes the world seem so peaceful," he said.

"Do you think bird feet get cold?" wondered Janie Lambert as she snapped this photo from her Hughesville, Maryland, back yard. It was about 23 degrees when she captured the image on January 24.

Duck, a 3-year-old Belgian malinois, works as a patrol narcotics detector dog for the military. His training session at Fort Bliss, Texas, quickly turned into playtime when snow started to fall on January 3. Handler Charles A. Ogin captured the pup's first time in the snow.

This Gentoo penguin was a bit curious about Tom Williams' camera as Williams explored Antarctica in December. "The penguins can be watched for hours with enthusiasm," he said. "Hundreds of them were walking in lines to and from the water. Generally, they would avoid coming too close, but this little guy was a bit curious and decided to investigate and peek into the camera."

Huskies Gus, Socia and Mic trek through the snow in Mullan, Idaho, on February 2. "They love the snow and are bred for pulling sleds, although we don't do that," said Jeff Bergstrom.

Four-year-old golden retriever Deuce "loves to lounge in the snow," said John Perdoch. He would lie there "all day given a chance," said Perdoch who shot this photo December 29 in Pennsylvania.

Draft horses Isabella and Timothy get blanketed by snow in their Sandyston, New Jersey, pasture. "Horses need more hay in extreme weather to stay warm," explained Victoria Jadali, who shot this photo January 22.

Jannet Walsh dresses her dog Andrew, a West Highland white terrier, in dog booties and wool socks to go out in blizzard conditions in Murdock, Minnesota. Andrew modeled his winter wear when it was minus 15 degrees in this video from December 9.

Rescued husky Teagan takes a romp in the Davis, West Virginia, snow in November 2012. Two-year-old Teagan had never seen snow before, and Christine Eaton said he "just jumped right in, running around and going crazy."

Andrew Newiss says his two cats enjoyed the snow that fell on Cowling, England, on January 26. They "were trying to catch snowflakes through the window," he said. Teddy, pictured here, and Lucy were "a little wary at first, but once they saw that I was outside they pranced through the snow drifts and enjoyed the freedom and fresh air."

Bentley, a Pomeranian puppy, explores his Hibbing, Minnesota, igloo on February 7. Funda Ray, who built the igloo for him, says Bentley loved exploring it -- and eating it!

Lauren Woodard captured this portrait of a cardinal on the day after Christmas as snow fell in Henderson, Kentucky. "There were 10 to 20 cardinals at any time in a tree outside the kitchen window and they were too beautiful not to catch on camera," she said.

What a fun birthday present! Beagle Daisy turned 9 as snow fell in Fitchburg, Wisconsin, on January 30. "She's slowed down over time, but put her in the snow and suddenly she's a puppy again," said Mark Palma. "This is definitely the weather beagles were built for."

Natalie Bauchan's Siberian huskies, Empire and Cammy, dig their noses into the Buffalo, New York snow. "This is the first thing they did when they got into the foot-plus snow!" said Bauchan. "They have the best personalities and would pull a sled if we let them."

Three-year-old Dixie dives for a Frisbee in the Victor, Idaho, snow. "Dixie loves all kinds of water, whether it be frozen in the form of snow, flowing down a river, or in a lake," said Tyler Johnson, who captured this image January 20. "We had to get a Frisbee that would not sink in the snow; there are currently two missing and buried in the snow somewhere in the yard."

These ducks' orange feet show up nicely against the Tweed, Ontario, Canada, ice and snow. James Vincent Wardhaugh captured this photo and others on January 28.