Animal Services Reminds Pet Owners To Be Heat Aware

As the weather starts to warm up, heat advisories are being issued in many Texas counties, including Hays, and animals need to be protected from rising temperatures.

To help their animals “beat the heat,” pet owners should:

• Provide their animals with access to shade and water
• Bring their pets inside during the hottest parts of the day
• Never leave an animal in an unattended vehicle. The temperature inside a car can reach 120 degrees even when the outside temperature is only 75 degrees.
• Keep dogs off of hot pavement to protect their paws—press the back of your hand firmly against the pavement for seven seconds. If it’s too hot for you, it’s too hot for your dog.

A heat advisory is issued when temperatures climb to the upper 90s with a heat index between 105 and 110 degrees.

Leaving a dog outside and unattended by use of a restraint during a heat advisory can result in citations and fines.

If you suspect an animal is being kept in unsafe conditions, contact Animal Control at 512.895.2655.