By Nikki Reck
The triple digit temperatures will soon be here. The Pima Animal Care Center encourages community members and pet owners to take extra precautions to keep their pets safe and cool during the summer months ahead. Every year, PACC’s Animal Protection Service officers respond to hundreds of calls involving pets suffering from heat-related illness and death because they were left outdoors, in a vehicle, or in another situation that put them at risk. In most cases, these situations can be avoided by following these easy tips:
Keep pets indoors: there is no better place to avoid the heat.
Keep them hydrated: provide clean, cool drinking water in an easily accessible, spill-proof container.
Provide shade: Ensure your pet has all-day access to a shaded spot with good air flow. For dogs with longer coats, even shaded spots can be too hot during 100 degree plus temps.
Protect their paws: walk your pet in the early morning or in the evening when the asphalt has cooled down and will not burn their paws. Place the back of your hand on the ground for five seconds. If it is too hot for you, it is too hot for your pet’s paw pads.
Do not leave them inside a car: even with the windows cracked, the interior temperature can become deadly within just a couple of minutes.
PACC is located at 4000 N. Silverbell Road, open Monday through Friday, noon to 7 PM and 10 AM to 5 PM on weekends. All pets adopted will come spayed or neutered, with age-appropriate vaccinations, a microchip, and a free vet visit. A $19 licensing fee will apply to dogs.
Pima Animal Care Center: Is our community’s only open-admission shelter. PACC cares for about 17,000 pets each year and is the only shelter in the county that never turns away a pet in need. PACC is also our community’s largest adoption agency and has the largest selection of dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens. Follow PACC on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 
