Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. (July 2, 2021) – The dog days of summer are here! Sunday, San Diego families will combine the love for our country with the love of their families! From all of us at Helen Woodward Animal Center, we wish you a joyous holiday and send you these safety tips to keep your furry family members safe!
And Now for Your Summertime Safety Tips….
4TH OF JULY/FIREWORK SAFETY:
- More family pets will run away from home this weekend than during any other time of the year because of fireworks.
- Do not bring your pets along to the fireworks displays.
- Bring your pets indoors before fireworks displays begin.
- Make sure that your pets have access to their favorite “safe place” or find a quiet, comfortable, enclosed room where your pets can “hide” if they need to.
- If you are going to a fireworks display and leaving your pets at home alone, leave the radio or television set on so there is some “normal” background noise.
- Make sure your pets are micro-chipped. Many of the pets that run away during the fireworks will escape by slipping out of their collars. A micro-chip identification will assure that your pet is returned if it ends up at a shelter.
- The adoptions department at Helen Woodward Animal Center will be open from 11 am to 6 pm on the 4th of July!
OTHER 4TH OF JULY/SUMMERTIME SAFETY TIPS:
HOTSPELLS:
- The normal body temperature for a dog is 101 to 102 degrees.
- A 3-degree rise can put a dog into a dangerous situation and increase its need for oxygen.
- At 108 degrees the heart, brain, liver, kidneys, and intestinal tracts begin to break down.
- Don’t leave your dog or cat in a car.
- Make sure that your pets have plenty of water and shade.
- If you believe that your pet is overheating bring it into air conditioning. You can immerse it in cool (not cold) water and give it “sips” of water. If necessary, apply ice packs and immediately take your dog to your veterinarian.
- If the pavement or sidewalk is too hot for your feet, it’s too hot for your dog’s paws. The pads can easily be burned on hot days.
GENERAL SUMMERTIME SAFETY:
- Keep pets away from hot barbeque grills or coals.
- Store pesticides and fertilizers out of reach of pets.
- Make sure that pets are not sniffing grass seed into their noses.
- Dogs that watch you plant bulbs may dig them up. The bulbs can be poisonous.
- Dogs or cats with white noses or ear tips can sun burn. If your pet will wear sunscreen, that’s great. But most of them will lick it off. It’s best to just keep them in the shade when the sun is bright.
For more information on adopting or for summertime safety questions, call Helen Woodward Animal Center at 858-756-4117, visit the Center at 6461 El Apajo Road in Rancho Santa Fe or visit www.animalcenter.org. For information on the Helen Woodward Animal Center Companion Animal Hospital, dial 858-756-4469.