As the weather gets warmer, we start to hear stories about pets being left in vehicles or yards for excessive amounts of time, or pets just generally not being taken care of.
We know as pet owners that pets need attention in the wintertime when they have to contend with low temperatures and snow.
But we sometimes forget the work that is needed to protect our pets in the summertime.
People need to take a deeper look into the life of their pets. They need to imagine how they would feel walking around in 30°C heat wearing a winter coat. Just like people, in the summer pets can become sweaty and hot and probably need a drink or two.
That is the life of furry pets.
I love seeing people take this into consideration and leave water stations out for hot animals, especially in bigger cities where there may be greater distance between people’s homes and where they are walking.
All of us have climbed into a vehicle after it has been sitting in the sun, and we all know know how hot it can get in there. We all know those times when we cannot touch the steering wheel because it is too hot to the touch.
What I don’t understand is how some people can think that an animal would be okay in those types of conditions.
Remember, they’re wearing a fur coat no matter the temperature. Now imagine that they’re wearing that fur coat in a sauna.
It is heartbreaking to hear about pets that die in cars. The number is in the hundreds every year, according to the American Veterinary Medical Foundation.
The foundation also included a handy chart on its website to show how temperatures in vehicles can increase over time, according to a study done by the Louisiana Office of Public Health.
At 20°C outside the vehicle, the temperature inside the vehicle can reach over 40°C in the span of an hour.
At 35°C out the vehicle, the temperature inside the vehicle can reach 60°C over the span of an hour.
How could anyone think that that is a safe environment for their pets?
That same study also showed that cracking a window does not do much to decrease the rise in temperature.
I understand that sometimes we go places that does not allow our pets or that we have to leave our pets alone for periods of time.
But we are responsible for our pets and that means making sure that we take care of them.
Plan ahead to make sure you do not have to leave your pet in the vehicle for long periods of time.
Make sure the always have a supply of water on long walks or just throughout a hot day. And make sure they have a shady spot to escape the
heat when they are outside.
Pet ownership means pet responsibility. People need to be responsible for their pets’ wellbeing.
