Summer heat is in full swing, and Dr. Kim Sanders, director of the Anderson County P.A.W.S. shelter, says it’s extremely important to remind pet owners to take care of their furry loved ones.
“We use a lot of kiddie pools around here,” she said about the outdoor recreation areas.
“Make sure the animals are well hydrated,” is her first tip.
“If you have to leave them out for an extended period of time, make sure they have a way to cool off,” she said. “Make sure there’s lots of shade around so they have somewhere to get out of the heat. Fans are always a great option, too, as long as it’s not blowing directly on them where they can’t get away from it. Number one, just like us, would be air conditioning. There’s different pup cup treats. We use sprinklers, dogs really love that.”
Volunteer Christine Brewer, who has been working with Yukon, a male mix dog, said she loves working with the young dog, but she must mind the heat.
“I want to get him exercise, but get him inside quick because it’s so hot,” she said.
How about a haircut?
“It definitely depends on the breed, but definitely shading them and keeping that skin nice and able to wick off some of that heat, make sure they don’t get sunburnt in the process,” she said. “It depends on the dog, and their age, health status, and on how much heat they can tolerate. I think it’s kind of the same for everybody: try to stay inside during the hottest temps of the day.”
Walking a dog on pavement or asphalt during the summer heat wave can be hard on its feet.
“Make sure you have tons of cold water, not walking on hot pavement,” she said. “If you put your hand down (on the pavement) and it’s too hot for you to keep it there for five seconds, it’s too hot.”
Randi Leigh Ashley, P.A.W.S. adoption coordinator, gets creative with the 100 dogs that rotate in and out of the shelter, some getting adopted while some wait longer. The building is air-conditioned, and dogs love a good treat out of the freezer.
“We make a different variety of pup cups around here,” he said. “We use peanut butter, sometimes we use Greek yogurt, sometimes we’ll even spice it up with pumpkin and some frozen dog food or even Cool Whip sometimes.”
Kylie Bunker, a caregiver, reaches into the freezer, where paper cups with chilled peanut butter and plastic flying disks are hidden.
While some families go on vacation in the summer, and their dog stays at a shelter, recreation time with a bone-shaped pool made for dogs is not lost on the four-legged pets.
“Chipper is a jumper,” Justin Glenn says with a smile, watching over a half-dozen dogs with coworkers at the pool.
Playtime in the summer at the shelter is as good as the smile on the dog’s face, as good as advertised. After all, it’s listed among many recreation play items as a “pool party.”
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