Is it me, or has Florida gotten really hot, really fast? I can't stand the heat. I pray for October to come around, then I don't hate living here for the next 5-6 months. When the temperature outside exceeds normal body temperature, that's when it's time to say adios, Florida.
When we moved here in 1985 from Pittsburgh, PA, I don't know what I was expecting, but intense heat wasn't it. My little car had snow tires and antifreeze in the engine, but it did not have air conditioning. I drove that car with two little kids and an aging Pekingese in the back, praying it didn't rain because the inside of the car turned into a sauna and the windows fogged up. When we got to Orlando I think there was a heat wave happening. Yes, heat on top of heat. We were staying in a motel so my car was parked in direct sunlight. When I got in it the next day and put the key in the ignition, I could hear the sizzle and feel the burning pain of my skin being burned off. I packed up the kids and drove back to PA.
Obviously we returned, but I had to really do some soul searching. We learned how to become Floridians. First, was to install a/c in my car. Then we learned how to dress. We learned tricks such as staying in a swimming pool all day and moving from air conditioned building to air conditioned car as quickly as possible. I would search for trees to park under. I worried about skin cancer a lot. My kids oozed SPF 50 through their pores. And, I learned that one should never, ever leave a pet locked in a car.
No matter how many times it happens and people are warned, there are still those numbskulls who leave a baby or a pet locked in a car.
by
Nothing gets people more excited than the prospect of a warm, sunny summer day! What many pet owners don’t realize is that the summer sun can turn a car, even with the windows cracked, into a deadly situation for their pet.
A dog’s body temperature averages 38°C, and they are only able to physically withstand approximately 41°C for a very short time. That’s a difference of only three degrees! After that, a dog can become victim to heat stroke, brain damage and death. When you consider that a car – even parked in the shade with the windows cracked open – can be 50°C hotter inside than the temperature outside within an hour, it creates a deadly situation for a pet that can’t cry for help. Leave your pet at home when running errands, no matter how quick you plan to be.
It’s easy for you to grab a glass of water or stash a water bottle in the car, but it’s not as easy for your pet. Fresh, clean water is important to keep them hydrated especially in the summer. If your pet is a short-nosed breed, or elderly, owners must be particularly vigilant to ensure the heat and humidity doesn’t impact their breathing. Plan to exercise your dog during early mornings and later in the evenings when it is not as hot. During the middle of the day, hot asphalt can burn your pet’s paws, so stick to grass or the sidewalk when out for walks. Cooling down your pet can involve allowing them access to shade, hosing them down with cool water or creating a shallow area (such as a plastic children’s pool) with fresh water where they can splash if they like.
The summer is a great time to enjoy with your family and pets. If you take the appropriate precautions, you will have a wonderful and safe summer with your furry friends!
Amen
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