With temperatures hovering in the low 100s, Norman, Oklahoma, animal shelter managers are on the lookout for signs of animals suffering from heat exhaustion.
The employees at the City of Norman Animal Welfare in south Norman are careful to make sure the dogs in their care have plenty of water when they let them outside in the morning. Amy Jones, adoption coordinator at the shelter, said the dogs usually go out once a day, while their cages get cleaned. They remain outside for anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour.
“They can’t cool off as effectively as people,” Jones said when asked how dangerous overheating can be for an animal. “They don’t sweat.”
The dogs have kiddie pools in the outside cages so they can cool off by drinking or standing in the water. On the morning of July 29, the first thing many of the dogs did when they got outside was head to their pools.
At Second Chance Animal Shelter in north Norman, the dogs go outside first thing in the morning.
“Big dogs stay out until 10 or 11,” said Michelle Herrin, rescue and volunteer coordinator. “They are taken out again at about 5 or 6 p.m. They get walked a lot.”
Both shelter managers warned about the dangers of animals getting overheated, and the importance in keeping them cool and hydrated.
“For sure, we water in the morning and at night,” Herrin said.
Jones and Herrin said the following signs are indicators that your pet may be overheated:
- Excessive panting
- Seizures
- Collapsing
- Disorientation
- Lying down and not moving when called
Jones explained that she once saw a dog react quickly to extreme temperatures. She said the dog was outside in the morning, running and barking. After only 30 minutes, the dog collapsed in from heat exhaustion. Workers took the animal inside to cool off and get water, likely saving its life.
Cats aren’t as much of a concern for overheating at either shelter, as they remain in climate-controlled cages in the shelters throughout the day.
Keeping the shelter animals cool and safe comes at a significant cost. Last year, during the months of July and August, the utility bills at Second Chance went up by $1,000-$2,000 over the spring or fall, Herrin said.
The summer months bring extra attention to the issue of animals and the dangers of extreme heat. Actress Jennifer Beals responded Thursday on social media after being publicly criticized for leaving her dog in a locked car on a 73-degree day. Beals noted that the windows were down and she was within sight of the dog throughout the five minutes it was in the vehicle.
Celebrities also have tried to raise awareness of the dangers of leaving animals in vehicles on hot days. A YouTube video service announcement features Tyrann Mathieu, a defensive back for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League, demonstrating how long he could sit in a hot car with the windows and doors closed. He lasted 8 minutes.
“If you’re going to make a dog a part of your family, then make him part of your family and don’t treat him like someone you wouldn’t care about,” Mathieu said in the video, produced by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).
Herrin advised that if someone notices an animal that is overheating or locked in a hot vehicle to contact “the proper authorities such as your animal shelter.”
“And if it is your own pet, then definitely call your vet,” Herrin added.
Click here to listen to dogs barking at the shelter
