From: Colleen Herrick
Columbus
As we enter the hottest days of the summer and look for ways to stay cool, please don’t forget that your outdoor pets are also looking for places to stay cool.
Recent ordinances passed by the Columbus City Council now require that your outdoor animal be provided the following:
All outdoor pets should be provided an enclosed structure that will protect them from the elements. When the temperature is 80 degrees or above, this structure must be provided shade either from a tree or a tarp. Pets must also be provided ample water so that they can keep themselves hydrated. When the temperature is over 90 degrees or a heat advisory is issued, your pet must be brought into a temperature-controlled facility until temperatures moderate.
Never leave your dog unattended in a parked car in the summer. Even with the windows slightly open, temperatures in the vehicle can climb to over 100 degrees very quickly.
Even indoor pets can feel the effects of a heat wave. Please make sure that you do not exercise your pet in the heat of the day and make sure your longer walks are in the early morning or late evening when the pavement is not as hot. If it is too hot for your bare feet, it’s too hot for their paws.
During this COVID crisis, we find ourselves turning more to our pets for comfort and companionship. Let us also keep them safe.
