Summer brings pet-safety concerns

It is better to leave pets, like this puggle, Hollywood, comfortably at home than to take them on errands where they are left in hot vehicles.
It is better to leave pets, like this puggle, Hollywood, comfortably at home than to take them on errands where they are left in hot vehicles.

— For pet owners, all four seasons present sets of circumstances to be overcome in keeping animals healthy and happy. Summer, however, with its grueling heat and humidity, is especially challenging.

In fact, summer’s most popular holiday can have disastrous repercussions for pets. The Fourth of July, with its thundering fireworks displays, is a traumatic time for animals who have a fear of loud noises. It is also the day of the year when many pets are lost, said Janet Berkley of the Paws Inn Animal Shelter in Searcy.

Animals who are kept outside can lunge against chains or thrash about trying to escape the commotion, only to injure themselves or break free. As a precaution, Berkley proposed that outdoor animals be brought indoors, if at all possible, until the booms that are part of the tradition of celebrating Independence Day have subsided.

“Bring [pets] inside and let them know you love them,” Berkley said. Furthermore, making sure your animals have tags and microchips can be crucial to finding wandering pets, as can contacting authorities, such as animal control, or neighbors as soon as a pet is discovered missing.

Berkley’s nonprofit organization, Paws Inn, is raising funds to build a state-of-the-art animal shelter that will serve all of White County. In addition to her work with Paws Inn, Berkley is a former director of the Searcy Humane Society and a longtime pet owner.

Although the Fourth of July is a prime time for pet problems, knowing what to do to keep pets comfortable is a full-time job. While that might seem like a daunting task, it doesn’t have to be.

“The rule of thumb I tell people to go by is, if you’re hot, the animal is hot, and if you’re cold, they are cold, too,” Berkley said. ‘Animals are a lot like people. They get happy, sad, hot and cold.”

One of the most important things owners can do for their pets is let them stay at home when the owners are out and about, rather than leaving the pets in hot vehicles.

“Cracking a window isn’t nearly enough,” Berkley said. “Go outside in a heavy coat, and sit in the sun for a while. That is how an animal with a fur coat feels sitting in a hot car. If you love your pets, let them stay at home under the air-conditioning.”

She added that black dogs are especially susceptible to overheating because their coats absorb the heat much like dark-colored clothing does.

For outdoor animals, having a constant supply of fresh, cool water available and keeping them in a shady spot to escape the heat are essential.

“If you have a neighbor that is gone all day, knock on their door and ask if they would mind if you give their animals fresh water while they are gone,” Berkley said. “Be helpful to your neighbors. If you love animals, don’t sit by and see them suffer.”

Making sure pets are well cared for and in good

condition is the job of adults and should not be left to children in the household, Berkley said. Using a pet as a way to teach responsibility can have disastrous results.

“Teach [children] to keep their rooms clean. Don’t leave it up to them to make sure an animal is cared for,” Berkley said.

Also, summer is peak time for pets to get flea and tick infestations. Providing the proper prevention is vital to a pet’s well-being. Keeping these parasites at bay can also help animals avoid contracting skin allergies. Contact a veterinarian for advice on what prevention measures will work best for your pet.

Although family members of the four-legged variety can be time consuming, the rewards they give in return are priceless.

“They will love you unconditionally,” Berkley said.

For more information on the Paws Inn No Kill Animal Shelter, call (501) 230-3342 or visit the group’s Facebook page.

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