Good Day Sunshine! Keeping Your Pet Safe in Summer Weather 

Summer is here and we have already seen some days when it has been too warm to take your pet for a ride to the store. But a good day of sunshine may be disastrous for a pet left in a car or at home without adequate comforts of shade and water.

Animals this time of year are overcome by heat exhaustion. Despite repeated warnings many pet owners continue to leave their dogs and cats in closed, parked cars each summer. This results in the animals suffering and sometimes heatstroke, a form of prostration that can kill even the largest dog in just a few minutes.

Heat prostration can often occur on moderately-warm days, but its worst during the summer months of (May – September). Cooler morning temperatures prompt pet owners to take their animals with them on those mornings’ errands, to the grocery store or paying bills while they’re inside, the thermometer is rapidly rising. 

Dogs and cats respond to heat differently than humans do. The time it takes to run a few errands can mean the difference between life and death for the animal. 

For most pets temperatures above 100 degrees can quickly be fatal within minutes, signs of trouble are panting, warm, dry skin. The animal may have a blue tongue and gums and starting expressions and a high temperature. Vomiting sometimes occurs, followed by collapse, soon after death and all of this may happen within 10 minutes.

On a hot summer day the inside of a vehicle heats very quickly. On a 85 degree day, for example, the temperature inside your vehicle with windows slightly opened will reach 102 degrees in 10 minutes. In 30 minutes it will be 120 degrees and on warmer days even higher. 

Treat your animals like you treat yourself. If it is too hot to sit in a car that has been turned off or to sit outside with no water or shade then it is too hot for your pet. Remember they wear their coats all year round. 

During these warm days be sure to always provide plenty of shade, food and water for your pets whether they are traveling with you or just simply staying at home.    

Mesquite City Ordinance 10-5-6 B It is unlawful for any person to confine an animal in a motor vehicle under conditions or for such a period of time as may endanger the health of such animal due to heat, cold, lack of food or water or other circumstances that could reasonably be expected to cause suffering. Total bail $500.00

Featured Dog- Eve- very small mix. Loves everyone. She needs company so a home where someone is home all the time would be the best. She was used to constant company.

Other available dogs-

 

Hobo- large high energy. Loves people and playing with toys and the wadding pool

Featured cat(s)- Rosa and Joey

Rosa and Joey have been together since they were very young kittens. They are very calm loving cats. They can keep themselves entertained while no one is home. They love people, come when called and enjoy being brushed and petted. They loves toys, wands, lasers and the cat tunnel. They both will carry toys around in their mouths. Their owner could no longer keep them. We would love for them to get adopted together since they are so good together but they can be adopted separately. 

All animals will be spayed or neutered prior to leaving shelter and receive 1 year rabies vaccination and city license. Ages are approximate.

The City of Mesquite Animal Shelter located at 795 Hardy Way is open for adoptions from 11am until 1 pm, Monday through Saturday, Sunday 1pm -3pm. Please call 702-346-7415 during these hours to speak to the front desk. Animal Control may be reached by phone or voicemail at 702-346-5268 

The animals submitted to the media may have changed so please visit our Petfinder website for a current listing and more detailed information on the animals. www.mesquiteanimalshelter.petfinder.com

Please also check our Facebook pages for lost and found animals along with pet information. https://www.facebook.com/MesquiteNVAnimalControl and https://www.facebook.com/FRIENDSOFMESQUITENVANIMALSHELTER