Arizona is in the middle of another hot summer. Maricopa County Animal Care and Control (MCACC) urges everyone to take care of their pets. Pets that are left outside during the day need to have access to shade all day. Ensure that the area that has shade in the morning has also shade in the afternoon. Water must also be in a shaded area and in a spill-proof container. Change the water regularly with fresh water.
Plan dog walks when it is not as hot outside. Walk dogs early in the day or later in the evening, when the sun is not as strong and the pavement is cooler. The pavement gets very hot and can burn a dog's pads. Dogs are very close to the ground, where the heat is, so give it time to cool off.
Maricopa County Board of Supervisors' Chairman Max Wilson reminds all pet owners that Arizona heat can kill. "Never leave a pet in the car in the heat as the temperature inside a closed vehicle sitting in our hot sun can reach over 200 degrees in a very short time," Wilson said. "Please take the necessary precautions to keep your pets safe."
When transporting dogs or cats, do not put them in a closed container of any kind; do not put them in the trunk of a car or the enclosed back of a truck. They cannot breathe, it is too hot, and they could suffer or even die. A kennel or pet carrier in the backseat is the safest place.
Check your cat for excessive hair and groom them. Take your dog to the groomers and get them groomed if they have excess hair and/or seem hot. Take extra care of old or overweight animals in hot weather. Snub-nosed dogs, such as Bulldog, Pekingese, Boston Terrier, Lhasa Apso and Shih Tzu, and those with heart or lung disease should be kept indoors with the AC on. These animals have a difficult time regulating their body temperature.