Doggie ER~ keep them out!

I have already seen several dogs left inside cars here in NC and even one at work in the ER parking lot one day that our security officer had to handle. So being a pet lover myself, I felt the need to once again speak about why you do not keep your pet in the car during the summer months, if you love them leave them at home and keep them out of the Pet ER or a coffin!!!

credit to PETA.org for the information below:

Every year, dogs suffer and die when their guardians make the mistake of leaving them in a parked car—even for "just a minute"—while they run an errand. Parked cars are deathtraps for dogs: On a 78-degree day, the temperature inside a parked car can soar to between 100  to 120 degrees in just minutes, and on a 90-degree day, the interior temperature can reach as high as 160 degrees in less than 10 minutes.

Animals can suffer brain damage or death from heatstroke in just 15 minutes. Beating the heat is extra tough for dogs because they can only cool themselves by panting and by sweating through their paw pads.

If you see a dog left alone in a car, take down the car's color, model, make, and license plate number. Have the owner paged in the store, or call local humane authorities or police. Have someone keep an eye on the dog. Don't leave the scene until the situation has been resolved.

If police are unresponsive or too slow and the dog's life appears to be in imminent danger, find a witness (or several) who will back up your assessment, take steps to remove the suffering animal, and then wait for authorities to arrive.

Watch for heatstroke symptoms such as restlessness, excessive thirst, heavy panting, lethargy, lack of appetite, dark tongue, rapid heartbeat, fever, vomiting, or lack of coordination. If a dog shows any of these symptoms, get her or him into the shade immediately and call your veterinarian. Lower the animal's body temperature gradually by providing water to drink, applying a cold towel or ice pack to the head, neck, and chest, or immersing the dog in lukewarm (not cold) water.

PETA offers leaflets that can be placed on vehicles to remind people never to leave unattended animals inside. For information on ordering PETA's "Don't Let Your Dog Get Hot Under the Collar" leaflet, please click here.

Simon Cowell stars in PETA's public service announcement (PSA) informing viewers of the dangers of leaving dogs in hot cars. You can help spread the message by contacting us at ActionTeam@peta.org or 757-622-7382 for information on how to get the PSA aired on your local television stations.

More about heat stroke and pet safety tomorrow...

Sun Safety with your ABC's

The ABCs of Sun Safety

Always use sunscreen!
Be careful between 10AM and 4PM, the sun’s strongest hours.
Cover your head and ears with a wide-brimmed hat.
Don’t forget to take breaks from the hot sun.
Eyes are especially sensitive to the sun — protect
them too!
Factor in the right sun protection — use SPF as
your guide.
Go inside when you feel too hot.
Have fun in the sun!
Injuries can result from not drinking enough
water when it's hot outside.
Just because it’s cloudy doesn’t mean you can’t get sunburn.
Knock out sun damage — use sunscreen every day!
Long shirts and pants will help protect your skin from the sun.
Many people don’t realize the importance of wearing sunglasses.
Notice what time you apply sunscreen so you know when it’s time to reapply.
Only you can protect your skin — practice sun safety!
Pay attention to your skin — if you plan to be in the sun, cover up.
Question family members and friends who say they don’t need to use sunscreen.
Remember: too much sun can cause long-term damage to your skin.
Sun that reflects off water and snow can still give you sunburn.
Take time to apply sunscreen 30 minutes before you go outside.
Urge family members to practice sun safety.
Vitamin D comes from sunlight.
Waterproof sunscreen helps when you sweat, but you still need to reapply it.
EXtra effort to protect your skin from sunburn is worth it.
You can still get sunburn, no matter what your skin type is.
Zounds! That’s a lot to remember about sun safety!

Have fun this summer, just stay safe and protect yourself and your family