Sarah Oliver
Victoria is well into summer and with temperatures set to increase, RSPCA Victoria is reminding the community that keeping pets safe and cool in the summer can save lives.
Preparation is key when it comes to ensuring the safety of pets during summer and basic precautions can reduce the likelihood of animals suffering from heat stress.
Take note of the temperature for animals who live outdoors and adapt plans to keep them cool. Make sure to include pets in holiday plans and never leave pets in cars, even in milder summer weather.
RSPCA Victoria Chief Executive Dr Liz Walker said animals should never be left in hot cars, even for a short time, as the consequences can be tragic.
“It only takes six minutes for a dog to die in a hot car as temperatures can rise to dangerous levels very quickly and can reach double the outside temperature even on mild days. Tinted windows, parking in the shade or leaving windows down do not reduce the inside temperature significantly.
“None of us want animals to suffer in the heat so always make plans for your pets to be kept happy and safe, even in milder summer weather.”
The RSPCA recommends that if pets do need to be left outside on warm days, it’s imperative to provide them with shade and multiple sources of cool clean water.
Ensure that water bowls can’t be tipped over and always provide more than one water source to account for leaks, evaporation and accidental spillage.
Take note of where the sun and shade fall at the time of your departure and account for how they will shift throughout the day, making sure to provide more than one option for shelter.
When preparing for a holiday, it’s important to include pets in plans, either including them in the travel or ensuring they have proper care from friends, family, neighbours or a pet sitting service.
If pets are left in the home to be cared for by someone else, make sure to let neighbours know so that they don’t mistakenly believe pets have been left alone.
RSPCA Victoria received 1163 reports of abandoned animals last financial year, with 384 of these reports during last summer alone.
Responsible pet ownership comes with legal and moral obligations to keep pets safe, including provision of food and water along with adequate shelter and veterinary care.
RSPCA are encouraging pet owners to be aware of their responsibilities and to make sure their approach to caring for animals is adapted to warm weather in spring and summer.
