High temps require special attention to pets

[Bob]

With temperatures hovering in the mid-90s and higher, animal control officers want to remind residents that pets need extra care and attention in the heat.

Sioux City Animal Control took more than 100 calls during the weekend from people concerned about cats and dogs locked inside vehicles or left outside all day, said animal control officer Chad Brown.

"A lot of people have been taking their pets to the grocery store and just leaving them in the car with the windows rolled up, and now is not the time to do that," Brown said. "Heat rises four times faster in an enclosed vehicle."

Animals cannot sweat like people do, he said, and will suffer more quickly from heat exhaustion. That's why Brown said it is important for people to also check on their pets every four to eight hours to make sure they are okay and that they have enough water to drink -- especially if they are going to be outside for long periods of time.

"My dog drinks about three gallons of water during the day," Brown said. "You want to give them cool, clean, fresh water, too, not just add on top of what's already there."