EW’ S PETS ISSUE 2012
Hot Pets
ANIMALS NEED TO KEEP COOL, TOO by Camilla Mortensen
t happens every summer. Someone makes a quick trip to the mall and leaves her
dog in the car “just for a couple minutes.” But the lines get long, the minutes drag
on and before long that car sitting in the sun has gotten unbearably hot. A Stanford
University study shows that on a 72-degree day a car can heat up to 116 degrees
in only an hour. Every summer dogs and even cats get heatstroke, and some die.
The rest of the country has been hit with blazing temperatures while Oregon has
remained relatively cool, but it only takes one hot afternoon to hurt your pet. “I’m positive
dogs in this community have died in this community from being left in a hot car,” Kelly
Darnell, interim Animal Services Program manager for Eugene, says.
Dogs are more sensitive to heat than people realize, and flat-faced animals such as
pugs, as well as older or overweight dogs, are extra-sensitive to high temps.
Even animals that live outside need to stay cool. On hot days many zoos freeze treats or
big blocks of water for animals to lick. Birders recommend leaving a puddle of water in your
yard as a birdbath so wild birds can stop by and cool off on hot, dry days. If you see a bird
standing with its legs far from its body and its wings spread, it’s usually trying to cool off.
Horses, sheep, pet goats and other livestock need shade and access to water as well.
Darnell says even with the brief heat spells we’ve had the city has already had calls about
hot animals. So what do you do if you see a dog in car and you think it’s too hot? “It’s hard
to know — you’re at a shopping mall and see a hot pet, who do you call?” Darnell says.
Who you call depends on where that mall is. Eugene, Springfield and Lane County
have their own numbers. Darnell says in the city of Eugene calling the animal services
number, 687-4060, will send your call to the 911 dispatch center.
Eugene will either send an animal welfare officer, or if there is none available, an actual police
officer will come, Darnell says, adding, “We take these hot dogs calls really seriously.” The
animal officers have special laser thermometers that tell how hot the inside of the car is, she says.
If the car is too hot, the officer will get the dog out, get it into the shade and give it water, and
if the owner can’t be found, take it to the 1st Avenue Animal Shelter. A notice is left for the owner.
Dogs, cats and other pets can also get too hot exercising in the heat of the day, or even
being left outside in a hot yard. Darnell says to keep an eye out for excessive panting,
increased heart rate and respiration, drooling, weakness, vomiting and collapsing. She
recommends making sure your pet has access to water and shade at all times on hot days
and if it’s really hot, bring pets inside to where there’s a fan or air conditioning.
Darnell says the city will be doing outreach and putting up flyers at Walmart, Valley River
Center and other big department stores to remind people that heat hurts dogs, too.
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EUGENE WEEKLY JULY 26, 2012 15