Allee
Well-known member
I'm a native Texan, a few things happen every summer, some are great, some are unwelcome, some burn me up! We all hear about pets dying in cars, it happens every summer. The statistics are staggering. A child left in a car in this heat is unthinkable, tragic and a criminal act but this thread is about dogs that lose their lives every summer, far too many die in their own back yards, one innocent life is too many.
This summer alone, I know of two young women who planned a week long family vacation. They happily packed for the trip with the intention of leaving their dog in a fenced back yard and having someone check on the dog and bring food. Thankfully, in both these cases, a wiser friend or family member offered to babysit the dogs in their own homes while the families were away. Most veterinarians offer boarding facilities for their four legged clients. Boarding fees are usually minimal but standard vaccinations are required. It amazes me how many dogs are never vaccinated. Vacations are expensive, often the money for the family pet, vaccines and boarding fees, just isn't there. When the temperature reaches three digits it is beyond cruel to subject a dog to a confined area with no relief and expect him to survive.
Backyards vary in appearance, danger of heat stroke doesn't. A story I heard years ago still haunts me. A sweet St. Bernard died of heat stroke in his owner's backyard oasis, 107 degrees Fahrenheit, the owner found his dog's lifeless body when he returned home from work, the body was a few feet from the fenced in ground pool and about twenty feet from the owner's locked mansion.
A word about shoes, dogs don't wear them, we do. If you walk your dog on pavement, concrete, asphalt or sidewalks be aware that while your own feet are cool and comfortable, your dog may be suffering. It isn't uncommon for a dog to walk or run beside their master until the pads of their feet are torn off and said master doesn't notice until he or she sees the bloody foot prints. This can happen fast, being aware of how fast it can happen can prevent your friend from wearing bandages for a week after a single walk. Check your pup's pads often, if you don't want to give up your walks during a heatwave, at least avoid hot surfaces or invest in shoes for your dog.
Keep your dog hydrated if he travels with you even for short distances, a small thermal case for lunches makes an excellent bug out bag, fill it with a bowl and a few bottles of water, when your fur baby starts panting, give him a drink.
Vehicular dog slaughter! I'm a pretty mellow person but seeing a dog inside a vehicle in a parking lot triggers a white hot rage, no pun intended. I carry a tire iron in my car and I will use it and suffer the legal consequences if I must (I have yet to see a vehicle more valuable than a life, a windshield can be replaced). Once you see a dog being treated for heat exhaustion and fighting for life, you can never unsee it, I worked for a vet, the number of dogs brought in to one small clinic for heat related emergencies was unbelievable.
I apologize for the rant, we all have our buttons. Get involved, stomp out loud, inform others. Save an innocent life.
*I used dogs in this thread because the statistics are higher but of course any pet deserves the same consideration as the family dog.
