Heat still a problem for pets around the country

From MissionLoc@l comes an article by Gregory Thomas about how rising temperatures are affecting San Franciso's pet population.

Read the entire article here.

Dog owners in San Francisco are again contending with high temperatures, and SPCA veterinarians warn that some animals have to be watched more closely than others.

“Dogs, like people, need to acclimate to weather,” said Jennifer Scarlett, a veterinarian and interim co-president at the San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

SPCA vets said labs keep playing no matter what, Pomeranians can get collapsed windpipes from heavy panting and short-snouted dogs like French bulldogs and pugs are extremely susceptible to heat exhaustion.

And of course, we know how stupid it is to leave animals in cars on hot days. San Francisco's Animal Care and Control spokeswoman Deb Campbell said owners who leave an animal in a car in 80-degree-plus weather can be charged with a felony.

To which I say, "Good."

Even as summer winds down, or so it seems here in upstate New York, here are some good tips on summer safety for pets from the San Francisco SPCA.