The Northeast and the Mid-Atlantic states got walloped by major winter storms this weekend. More are expected this week.

Meanwhile dogs need to be walked. Especially when you have three big dogs like Ethel, Nola, and Lucy, above. These are the lucky dogs rescued by my two good friends, Ho Blair and Jerry Devine. (They’re the ones with the big coats. Er, the big puffy, not fluffy, coats.)

Old English sheepdogs are supposed to be in their element in the chilly weather, but take a look at the expressions on the girls’ furry faces in this photo in their local newspaper. They look utterly shocked, with mouths open, eyes staring in disbelief at the surrounding winter wonderland.

There’s a good reason for this. A few months ago, they were all enjoying the high life in warm, sunny Palm Springs, Calif. Last time I saw Ho and Jerry, they were in shorts and tropical-hued short-sleeve shirts, and the girls sported short haircuts and lounged like coddled popsicles around the air-conditioned bliss of their house until it was cool enough to go for a walk.

Then Asbury Park, N.J., beckoned. “We miss having four seasons,” Ho explained. Little did they know about the fourth one. Still, they love it, and say they continue to believe in their sanity. The dogs may be saying otherwise, judging by their looks.

(We tease. Actually, the dogs are probably a lot happier there than in Palm Springs, where it gets mighty toasty during summer.)

We who live in relatively warm climes salute devoted dog owners who live in places where snow shovels are de rigeur. It takes a lot of effort, fortitude, and insulation to get through these frigid months of dog walking. Here’s a nice, warm toast to you and your chilly-pawed friends!

Photo: Noah K. Murray/The Star Ledger