Pet Heat and Fourth of July Safety with the Berkshire Humane Society
PITTSFIELD, Mass. – With America's big 250th celebration and temperatures high this week, it's important to note safety precautions for your pets.
Berkshire Humane Society’s Executive Director, John Perreault, said it was important to make sure your animals are safe from the heat.
"Over these next few days, starting today, the heat index is going to be well over 100 degrees, at least for the next three to four days, and people that have dogs and cats, especially dogs, really have to be extra careful at this time of year, especially in this type of heat."
Perreault says the best thing to do is to help keep your animals inside and in a cool area with water. The ground, whether it is pavement or even grass, can heat up well over 100 degrees, burning their paws.
He said the best way dogs cool down is by panting, not sweating like humans. They have limited sweat glands in their paws, so they can’t regulate heat well in extreme temperatures.
"They really cool themselves off by panting. It helps; it dries their tongue, and that's what cools them off, so they can't be in a heated area for any length of time. And we always tell everybody to be safer than sorry, keep them in the coolest part of your home, let them chill, relax, if you need to take them out for that walk very early in the morning," he explained.
Perreault said the best time to walk is in the morning, preferably before 8 a.m. and after 8 p.m., once the sun has gone down. If you do have a busy body dog who enjoys his walks, make sure to do some fun inside enrichment.
He also recommends that long-haired cats and dogs get well groomed, as they have a harder time staying cool if not. While short-haired dogs outside are prone to getting sunburned, regular sunscreen should not be used on them as you would on yourselves.
He also recommends avoiding bringing your pet with you, as the car will heat up really quickly, making it better to leave them in a cool place than out, even if you think it will be a quick errand to run.
If your dog has experienced overheating, it may display signs of excessive panting, seizures, and agitation, and it is best to contact your vet immediately.
Now that fireworks have already started throughout the county, the humane society has already seen a spike in strays being found, and it is unlikely to slow down as the fourth approaches.
They recommend microchipping your animals, as even your indoor cats can get spooked and sneak out.
"It has certainly increased over the last week or so, but a lot of times, dogs that are agitated, or dogs that get stressed over fireworks, they'll go through screens, they'll run through doors, and they're trying to get away. They don't know what they're getting away from, and a lot of times, they can get lost. So we always remind people, especially at this time of year, that if your dog isn't microchipped, to make sure that you have that collar and tag on at all times, in case they do get lost. That's your pet's ticket home."
Perreault also said if your animals do become scared, it might be best to have the windows blocking the fireworks as well as other noises in the house to drown out the booms.
"If you have air conditioners, fans, radios, music, shades that don't allow the lighting too, you want to keep them in a nice, loud, quiet place, like last night, we had a big thunderstorm. One of my older dogs is all of a sudden having an issue with it. For me, in the middle of the night, putting on the television, it drowns it out. My dog was able to settle and be fine after that."
Along with the fireworks, cookouts are also a big factor, and it is important to make sure your pets can't get into some of the food, like corn cobs, which, if ingested, could upset the stomach and cause blockages, as well as chicken bones, skewers, and more. It is important to pick up after yourself for your pets and wildlife, as well as fireworks debris.
"You got to make sure that we put our food away properly, and making sure not only wildlife doesn't get into it, but our own pets don't get into it as well, but it's, it'll be a few busy days for your local animal control officers, and of course, here at Berkshire Humane Society as well, because of the Fourth of July," he said.
Perreault also recommends that if your pets are on medications, to get them refilled now, as the offices might not be open this weekend, and it's important to give medication before they might get stressed.
If you enjoy taking your pets to the water, it is important to keep a lifejacket on them in case they fall out of a boat and are not good swimmers. It is also important to make sure they don't get overhydrated
"It could happen with kids, and especially in swimming in pools, swallow a lot of water, and the same thing can happen for your pet. So you want to make sure everything is within moderation. You don't want to take your lab and have him in the water for six or eight hours, because if he's taking in a lot of water, excess water could lead to some problems as well."
Perreault says they have a contract with the City of Pittsfield that if a pet is found, they will bring it to the Humane Society at any time of the night. But it is recommended to have a collar or tag, as it can help find their families faster and in a more convenient way.
But if the shelter gets a pet, they are very diligent about posting it on their Facebook and will be available to pick up the next morning if they come in late.
"You can call the Berkshire Humane Society, and we normally do pretty well when animals come through here, dogs, to post their pictures, and we have a good reclaim rate, so people do get them pretty quickly. But you want to make sure collar or tag always important, and if you had a collar and tag on with the proper information, the police officer picks it up and looks at the tag and sees you live four blocks away, they're probably going to deliver to your home and not bring it here, but most of the dogs come through here don't have proper ID on it, that's why they end up here."
