Hot Weather Pet Care Alert

• When possible, bring pets into an air-conditioned area of your home.  Use fans if air-conditioning is unavailable.
  
  
• When animals are outside, provide them with a shady, sheltered place to rest.  Maintain quantities of fresh water in containers that cannot be tipped and spilled.
  
  
• Change drinking water often. Dirty water breeds bacteria and attracts flies and mosquitoes.  The larvae from mosquitoes can cause heartworm in dogs and cats.
  
  
• Take measures to prevent fly bites, fleas, and ticks.
  
  
• Do not leave any animal in a parked car, even with the windows open.
  
  
• Schedule walks with your dog during the early morning or late evening, taking special care with older dogs, young puppies, and dogs with short noses.
  
  
• Parents are urged not to allow children to exercise a dog while the child is riding a bicycle or skating. The dog may get over heated and children don'€™t always know when to stop.
  
  
• Supervise pets. Do not leave them alone in situations where they may come in contact with wild animals such as raccoons, skunks, and coyotes.
  
  
• Whenever taking your pet on an outing, carry plenty of cool water for the pet to drink and have water that can be used to wet down your dog'€™s body.
  
  

Animal Care & Control is urging animal owners to provide proper provisions for animals during hot summer months.  Animals exposed to high temperatures, high humidity, and inadequate ventilation can become ill or irritable, and may pose a danger to themselves and to people.  The department urges pet owners to pay extra attention to provisions for their animals during this time.

If your dog is panting excessively, or vomiting, or having difficulty walking in extreme heat, the dog may be suffering from heat stroke.  If you suspect your dog is in trouble, take the dog to a cool place out of the direct sun and use cool water to lower his temperature.  Contact your veterinarian right away.

Report signs of animal neglect to Animal Care & Control immediately by calling 427-1244. Any animal that is found by the shelter to be left in conditions that pose an immediate health hazard to the animal will be taken directly to Animal Care & Control for its safety. The Animal Control Officer will leave a written notice for the owner to claim their pet from the shelter.

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