Summer Dog Safety

With the summer heat full upon us, there are some important things to remember regarding heat and pets

• Walk your dog in the early morning or later evening to avoid overheating your buddy. Avoid strenuous activity
• Do not leave your dog outside unattended in the sun or outside on extremely hot days
• If you must put your dog outside, make sure they plenty of water in containers that can not be tipped over and plenty of shade and shelter. Dog houses are not always good sources of shade as they can trap heat.
• Avoid hot asphalt and streets during walks as it can burn your dog's feet
• Do not leave your dog in a hot car, even with the window cracked. Temperatures in cars can shoot up quickly to hundreds of degrees.
• With summer fireworks or thunderstorms, do not leave your dog unattended outside. Many dogs are frightened of thunder and fireworks and can run off. Keep your pets safe and secure INDOORS. Do not take your pet to firework displays. It may be fun for you but it is not fun for your dog.

The Fourth of July can be nightmares for shelters as large numbers of unattended family pets panic at the sounds and flee only to find themselves lost and alone. Animals can hear and feel these noises from miles away.