Be cool with pets in heat of summer
The “dog days of summer” are upon us. The ancient Greeks and Romans watched the night skies for Sirius (the dog star) to appear in conjunction with the sun. This was the sign that the hottest days of the summer were near. This generally occurs between July and September. I can assure you that the dog days of summer are here. Both dogs, cats and humans can only tolerate a few minutes of the heat.
In our modern world, we spend less time looking at the stars and more time being with our pets. So much so, that many owners hate to be away from their favorite dog or cat. They take them everywhere, and often the pets are left alone in a vehicle while the owner shops and runs errands.
A warm summer day can cause the interior of a vehicle to reach an average temperature of 120 to 160 degrees. Animals left inside vehicles can suffer from heatstroke, dehydration, brain damage, kidney damage, risk of permanent injury and even death if left unattended. It takes only a few minutes for an animal to suffer. Contrary to popular belief, rolling down windows or parking in the shade does not help. Since May of this year, the Animal Control Division of the Conroe Police Department has been averaging approximately two to three calls a day regarding animals being left in vehicles.
In some cases, owners may receive citations for various ordinance violations regarding care and safety of animals. Owners could face cruelty to animal charges in cases where an animal suffers serious injuries or death as a result of being left in a vehicle.
For more information about pet safety and local ordinances, call Conroe Animal Control at 936-522-3211. Our two Animal Control officers handle approximately 3,500 animals a year. Our Animal Control officers handled almost 400 animals in June.
Don’t let the dog days of summer get you down. Take them out of the heat and take care of your pets.