Keeping your pets safe this summer
News 11's Adonis Albright speaks with the Humane Society of Yuma about some tips & tricks every pet owner should know
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - The Humane Society of Yuma (HSOY) is reminding pet owners in the community to be vigilant with their pets during these hot summer temperatures.
“It’s important that we’re not using black buckets, and a lot of people don’t think about that but if you put a black bucket or even a metal bucket out in the sun, that water’s going to get extremely hot - that animal’s not going to want to drink it", said Annette Lagunas, the Executive Director of HSOY.
Lagunas recommends only taking your pet outside in the morning or at night to minimize their exposure to the sun, and keep them hydrated at all times. If you are planning on grabbing that leash and heading out the door, make sure your pet's paws are protected from the hot concrete. You can buy little booties for their paws at your local pet store.
It's also important to never leave your pet unattended in a car, whether the AC is blasting or not. Lagunas recommends leaving your pet at home if possible, to avoid the possibility of your pet being exposed to the elements.
The shelter is also urging the public that if you come across a stray animal during these hot summer days, to not immediately bring it to the shelter, because it might do more harm than good.
"If it's a cat, we highly recommend you leave it alone, unless you can see that it's truly suffering from heat exhaustion. We're all hot this time of year, and typically cats are very good at finding that cool spot."
Lagunas said the same thing goes for dogs, but encourages you to go door to door to ask if the dog belongs to anyone before contacting animal control. If you are ever in that situation and are unsure of what to do, don't hesitate to contact the shelter and they can guide you through the appropriate steps.
The Humane Society of Yuma has also been dealing with an influx of stray animals in recent months - an issue that has only been compounded by the pandemic. In the midst of kitten season, the shelter currently has more than its fair share of kittens available for adoption.
Related: Humane Society of Yuma seeing unusual influx in stray animals
“I would say close to 900 cats have come in over the past 2 months", said Lagunas.
The same goes for dogs, the shelter only has 4 kennels available out of a max of 92. HSOY plans to hold an adoption event in July to make sure these pets go to loving homes. However, the shelter fears with the fourth of July right around the corner, the issue is only going to get worse.
“It is the worst holiday that we celebrate, because [of] the fireworks going off, it scares animals... and unfortunately pet owners don’t have the microchips and licenses up to date like they should, and so we’re unable to get those animals back to their homes right away.”
The shelter provides microchips for pets for $20 - a small price to pay for peace of mind, according to Lagunas.
To learn more about the Humane Society of Yuma and how you can get involved you can visit their website, or find them on Facebook. To see more pets up for adoption, you can head to The Good Stuff tab on our website.
