more who were left to suffer for four days outside in the heat without
food or water while their guardians were on vacation, PETA asks that
you take special care of your pets in the summer heat.
PETA receives reports every year about animals who suffer horrifying
deaths during the spring and summer months. During warm weather, even
dogs who are left in the shade can quickly succumb to heatstroke and
suffer brain damage as a result. On a 78-degree day, the temperature
inside ashaded car is 90 degrees, while the inside of a car parked in
the sun can reach 160 degrees in just minutes. If you see a dog
showing any symptoms of heatstroke - including restlessness, heavy
panting, vomiting, lethargy, and lack of appetite or coordination -
get the animal into the shade immediately. You can lower a symptomatic
dog's body temperature by providing the dog with water, applying a
cold towel to the dog's head and chest, or immersing the dog in tepid
(not ice-cold) water. Then immediately call a veterinarian.
PETA makes the following suggestions for safeguarding animals:
· Keep dogs inside: Unlike humans, dogs can only sweat through
their footpads and cool themselves by panting. Soaring temperatures
can cause heat stress, injury, or death.
· Water and shade: If animals must be left outside, they
should be supplied with ample water and shade, and the shifting sun
needs to be taken into account. Even brief periods of direct exposure
to the sun can have life-threatening consequences.
· Walk, don't run: In very hot, humid weather, never exercise
dogs by cycling while they try to keep up or by running them while you
jog. Dogs will collapse before giving up, at which point it may be too
late to save them.
· Avoid parked cars: Never leave an animal in a parked car in
warm weather, even for short periods with the windows slightly open.
Dogs trapped inside parked cars can succumb to heatstroke within
minutes—even if the car isn't parked in direct sunlight.
· Never transport animals in the bed of a pickup truck: This
practice is dangerous—and illegal in many cities and states—because
animals can catapult out of the truck bed on a sudden stop or choke if
they jump out while they're tied up.
· Stay alert and save a life: Keep an eye on all outdoor
animals. Make sure that they have adequate water and shelter. If you
see an animal in distress, provide water for immediate relief and then
contact humane authorities right away.
For even more tips, visit PETA.org.
