As temperatures climb, Humane Society urges pet owners to take summer heat seriously
Samuel Kirk
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – With summer temperatures heating up across the Desert Southwest, local animal experts are urging pet owners to take precautions to protect their pets from the dangers of extreme heat.
Annette Lagunas, Executive Director of the Humane Society of Yuma, says they see the impact firsthand.
“Unfortunately, we get several dogs that come into the shelter that are in distress because of the heat,” Lagunas said. “So anything that we can do to save a few pets is what we’re gonna do.”
Simple steps can go a long way: walking dogs early in the morning or late in the evening, ensuring they have plenty of fresh, cool water, and never leaving them inside a parked car. Lagunas emphasized that even a short walk on hot pavement can be dangerous.
“They are covered in fur. Their temperature is already much higher,” she said. “We typically see a pet around 101 to 102 degrees, that’s their normal temperature, so when it’s hot outside, they can go much higher than that, and it can be detrimental to their health.”
Lagunas and her team recommend always checking pavement temperatures before taking pets outside and creating a cool, shaded space for them to rest during the hottest parts of the day.
As summer continues to heat up, animal advocates hope awareness will help reduce preventable heat-related illnesses and save lives.