It’s about to get really hot in the Portland area. You may have taken steps to keep yourself and the small people in your life safe and healthy, but do you know how to keep your animal friends safe when the temperatures hit the triple digits?
The advice below is from the Oregon Humane Society. You can find out more on their website.
Keep your pets cool and hydrated
Just as you need to stay cool and hydrated, so do your pets. Keep drinking bowls full of fresh and cool water and provide shade for pets if they are outside. If you have a dog, a kiddie pool is a great option for them to play and relax.
Watch your pets outside
When it is this hot, it is not safe to leave pets unattended outside. Instead, bring them inside.
If you are near water, keep an eye on your animal. They may not be a natural swimmer.
Remember, materials like pavement, metal and sometimes sand can get so heated by the sun that it will burn a dog’s paws. If the material is too hot for your feet, it is too hot for a dog, too.
Some light-colored pets can get a sunburn! Talk to your vet about whether or not you should put sunscreen on your pet’s nose.
Don’t leave your pet in your car
Don’t leave a kid in the car and don’t leave a pet in the car. Let pets stay home when you run errands. Cars can heat up very quickly, even with the windows down.
Change your routine
If you have a high-energy dog, lower your expectations. Heat can cause them to be less energetic.
Walk pets in the cooler morning or late evening.
Puzzles and other brain-engaging things can keep dogs busy when they have to stay inside in the air-conditioning all day.
Help animals in distress
If you see an animal that is struggling outside in the heat, call the authorities and give it a bowl of cool water and maybe a sprinkler to cool down in. Contact neighbors to see if the animal is theirs.
If you see an animal in a parked car, write down the car information and contact local business to see if you can find the owner. If you cannot, call the authorities and wait by the car.
For more tips, visit the Oregon Human Society’s website.
Keep animals safe during Portland’s heat wave.
— Lizzy Acker
503-221-8052, [email protected], @lizzzyacker
