LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — As temperatures heat up in Las Vegas, one of the populations that will be most vulnerable to the heat is those living on the streets, and their animals who keep them company.
Local non-profit Street Dogz is busy helping provide relief to the pets.
Janice Tucker, a volunteer at Street Dogz, was out on Wednesday, stopping by areas where she knows there are pet owners who could use the resources.
“We want everyone to keep their dogs. There’s such overcrowding at the Animal Foundation,” said Tucker.
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She goes out at least three days a week, providing food, leashes, and now cooling resources.
“We’ll get a call, and we’ll go to the area, and then there’ll be a lot of other people come,” said Tucker.
She says providing dogs with resources is necessary in Las Vegas, where summers get dry and hot.
“Death we’ve had, you know, deaths occur from the heat. And also, if people are walking their dogs out on these pavements, they’ll burn the pads,” said Tucker.
One of her longtime homeless customers is Amber Dinsmore, who had her dog Gizmo with her.
“The cooling collars, they have those cooling mats that are just like those,” said Dinsmore. “And you just get them wet, and they keep them cooler from like the wind and everything like that. A tarp, I mean, to keep the sun off, obviously.”
She says that without her dogs, she wouldn’t survive living on the streets.
“I personally have several, like, a few mental issues,” said Dinsmore. “Like, not going to lie, and she keeps me from going crazy.”
After helping Amber, Tucker hopped in the car to head to the next family needing help.
The couple was Danny Mallett and Lauren.
“We’ve had several people bring us, bring us animals so that they -that were theirs, or they got somebody else, but they couldn’t take care of them, so they just, they bring them over here,” said Mallett.
They were already spraying their dogs with water before Street Dogz arrived.
But with the hot pavement, the dog shoes from Street Dogz were welcomed.
The couple says that without the help, they would be in a different situation.
“We would have to give them up,” said Mallett. “There’s no way we could keep them.”
And while Street Dogz helps the dogs, they’re helping their owners too.
“They do more than just the dogs too,” said Mallett. “I mean, they brought us clothes out and food for us before. Janice has given me side jobs before to help me get a little money.”
For anyone who would like to donate to Street Dogz or even get resources from them as the temperatures get hotter, you can call 702-277-8836.
Here are some heat tips for all dog owners:
- Give them plenty of cold water.
- Never leave them inside a parked vehicle.
- Don’t let them linger on hot asphalt.
- And know the symptoms of overheating, like panting and an increased heart rate.
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