How to keep your pets safe during the expected 108 temps this weekend
EL PASO, Texas -- El Paso has seen triple-digit weather all week. Today's high is projected to be 106, with Saturday and Sunday expected to reach 108.
If you don't like the summer heat, you're probably wondering how to keep yourself cool, but Animal Services warns of the dangers of not keeping your pets cool.
Michelle Anderson with El Paso Animal Services says during the summer months, more animals come in with heat-related illnesses.
"Now's the time of year when we see a lot of incidents when pets are in extreme heat conditions, they are left in a vehicle," said Anderson.
"Sometimes people think I'm just gonna run into the store it's just gonna be five minutes or a couple of minutes in and out it not gonna make much of a difference, but you don't realize how quickly your vehicle can heat up," said Anderson.
Animal Services recommends these tips to keep your pets cool:
- Leave pets at home
- Make sure pets have access to air conditioning or have access to shade
- Make sure they have fresh cool water, and it's not in a metal bowl
- Utilize the use of kiddie pools to cool down
- Tie wet bandanas around their necks
- Wet their paw pads with water or alcohol wipes
- Don't walk pets during peak temperatures - if you must walk them after the sun sets and before it rises
- Test the safety of the pavement with the back of your hand.
"Place the back of your hand on the pavement if it's too hot for you to leave your hand for more than five seconds, then it's too hot for them," said Anderson
Animal Services recommends reducing pets' time outside as much as possible
"There are plenty of other ways that you can exercise your dog's mind and body at home with various different activities where you do puzzle toys with your pet, you play inside with air conditioning, provide enrichment for them, exercise their brain and their body rather than taking them outside for a run," Anderson said.
