Protect your pets from the heat
Despite the stories that come out this time of year of pets (and children!) being found dead in cars, it seems that some people still don’t get it.
Don’t leave your pet or child in a heated car when the temperature is in the 60s or higher, even if the windows are open. If the outside temperature is 79 F, the temperature can climb to 90 degrees in the car in the shade or 140 F in the sun. Even being in the car for more than 5 minutes can be too long.
Also, leaving the air conditioning on is no guarantee… Last year a TX police officer left his dog in the car with the air conditioning running. The air conditioner stopped running, and the dog was found dead.
Animals are at high risk from heat because they are do not sweat like we do. Dogs can only cool themselves by panting and by sweating through their paws. If they have only overheated air to breathe, they can collapse, and suffer brain damage and possibly die of heatstroke.
Keep this in mind as you’re taking your dog on trips. Always bring water for them. Plus, jogging through the park might be fine for you but it might be too much for your dog.
And one heat-related note from paw-rescue.org:
“Don’t let dogs ride loose in pick-up truck beds. The hot metal can burn a dog’s paws, the sun and flying debris can hurt the dog, the dog can accidentally be thrown out of the truck if the brakes are suddenly applied, and the dog can jump out if scared or upon seeing something interesting to chase.”