Shelter Director Offers Summer Pet Safety Tips

With temperatures rising outside and the summer months upon us, beating the heat is the focus of many.

The same goes true for animals.

Toccoa-Stephens County Humane Shelter Director Jeff Roberts said there are some things people should keep in mind when it comes to caring for their pets during the warm weather.

Roberts said people need to particularly check on pets that spend most of their time outdoors.

“You need to make sure they always have a very regular supply of fresh water,” said Roberts. “Even at the shelter, when we have dogs outside, we check them on a hourly basis to make sure they still have water because they can run out very quickly.”

He also said the animal should have a place of shade to get out of the direct heat.

Roberts also said people need to remember to not leave animals in hot cars while traveling during the summer.

He said conditions in a car just sitting in the sun can turn very dangerous very quickly.

“If it is 90 degrees outside and an animal gets left in a car, in five minutes, that inside of the car will be 100 degrees,” said Roberts. “In ten minutes, it will be 110. In 30 minutes, it is 124 degrees.”

Roberts went on to say that can affect an animal very quickly.

“Most people do not realize it only takes minutes for a pet left in a vehicle on a warm day to succumb to heat stroke,” said Roberts. “It only takes 15 minutes for an animal to raise its body temperature from a normal 102 degrees to deadly levels.”

Roberts said it is a citable offense to leave an animal unattended in a hot car.