Community Corner

County Heat Safety Tips for Pet Owners in Area Including Redlands-Loma Linda

'Animals left outside in high heat temperatures can suffer from heat-related stress, burned paws, sunburn, and even death,' San Bernardino County Animal Care & Control officials said.

Monsoonal moisture means higher humidity levels, and combined with temperatures in the 90s and hotter, July and August weather in the Redlands-Loma Linda area can be hard on pets.

Officials with the San Bernardino County Animal Care & Control Program on Thursday offered a hot-weather reminder and tips for pet owners as summer heats up.

Friday afternoon highs were expected to approach 99 degrees with humidities near 25 percent, according to the . Humidity levels were expected to rise to 40 percent and higher over the weekend, forecaster Mike Watkins said in a phone interview.

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"Pets are vulnerable to high temperatures, especially during a heat wave, and are unable to cool down their bodies as humans can," Animal Care & Control officials said.

"Animals left outside in high heat temperatures can suffer from heat-related stress, burned paws, sunburn, and even death."

Find out what's happening in Redlands-Loma Lindawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Animal Care & Control officials offered these hot weather tips to keep animals healthy, safe, and alive:

  • Make sure pets have plenty of fresh clean water every day, and that the water container is stable to avoid tipping over. If traveling or leaving the household with a pet, always carry sufficient drinking water for it.
  • Bring pets inside during the hottest part of the day and let them rest in the cool part of the house.
  • Make sure pets have plenty of shade if they are to be kept outside.  Remember, the shade your pets have in the morning will either change or diminish as the sun moves throughout the day and may not protect them.   
  • Never leave pets in a parked vehicle, even in the shade with the windows cracked open. Temperatures can reach a dangerous 120 degrees inside a vehicle and quickly turn it into a furnace that can kill any animal.
  • Don't force animals to exercise when it is hot and humid. Exercise pets early in the morning or late in the evening.
  • In extremely hot weather, do not let pets stand on sidewalks or hot asphalt to avoid burning their paws.
  • Pets can get sunburned too. Keep pets out of the sun during the peak hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.  Put sunscreen on pet’s unprotected areas such as the tips of noses and ears, especially on short haired fair-colored pets.

"Pets can suffer heat-related stress and injury just as humans can, so take extra precautions during the summer's rising temperatures and protect them," Animal Care & Control officials said.

For more information on pet care and safety during summer months, call the San Bernardino County Animal Care and Control Program at 1 (800) 472-5609 or visit www.sbcounty.gov/acc.

For info on summer safety in general, visit www.calema.ca.gov


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