By MATT PIKE
As the summer heat continues and you protect yourselves, St. Joseph Friends of the Animal Shelter wants to make sure you keep your pets top of mind as well.
Melanie Barnes with Friends says with the heat while it's not pleasant for us, it's also not pleasant for your pets and says the best practice when its hot is to bring your pets indoors.
"Or provide them with some type of indoor and/or protection from the sun," Barnes says on the KFEQmunnity show. "But if they have to stay outside, and this goes for small and large animals, make sure they have plenty of shade."
Barnes says if you don't have shade trees or ways for animals to get out of the sun around, it might be best to bring them inside to get them out of the heat. Barnes also advises fresh water.
Barnes also adds its important to know what you're asking of your pet on a hot day, such as when it comes to physical activities.
"If you're a runner and you run with your pet you may be able to tolerate a 90-degree day, but can they? On concrete with their paw pads is the concrete to hot for them? Are you asking them to go on a walk in the middle of the day in direct sunlight?" Barnes explains. "Obviously pets will kind of self-regulate in the fact that most of them will not overexert themselves in the heat and temperature, so make sure you understand what you're asking of your pet as well in those times."
Barnes says in general if you can't keep your hand on a surface where you plan to take your pet for a walk for around three to five minutes, then it's not necessarily safe for your pet to walk on it.
Along with fresh water to drink, Friends of the Animal Shelter says with the heat animals also love water to play in, such as a kiddie pool or even a hose, but pets should be monitored while using them.
Interview
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