Responsible Animal Care

 Here in the Pacific Northwest we’ve been fairly fortunate in that we have for the most part avoided the extreme high temperatures that the rest of the nation seems to be suffering from. In fact, we have had an unusually cool summer so far. But the weatherman says that is about to change here shortly. Something we need to remember as we experience summer heat waves is that we aren’t the only ones who feel the heat, our animals becomes stressed out with hot weather too. If you have pets or livestock, remember to give them extra water and plenty of shade; just because these animals may be used to being outdoors doesn’t mean they are immune to extreme changes in temperature. In hot weather never, ever leave an animal alone in a vehicle; even with the windows open, a car or truck can quickly become a furnace. Also, just like it’s not a good idea for humans to do strenuous exercise in the heat of the day, domestic animals should not be exercised, and livestock should not be transported in heat over eighty degrees. Remember, our animals’ needs reflect our own in hot weather; if you need shade, more water, and rest, so do they.