New Field Video Shows it’s Vital to Help Dogs Suffering in the Heat
PETA Declares Crisis for Neglected ‘Backyard Dogs’
For Immediate Release:
July 31, 2019
Contact:
Megan Wiltsie – 202-483-7382
As temperatures soar across the country, a new PETA video released today reveals the dire conditions for dogs who are left outdoors 24/7, even during the hottest days—and the five easy steps to save their lives:
- Call 911 if the dog is in immediate danger.
- Otherwise, politely ask the owners to take the dog inside. If they refuse, ask them to move the animal to a shady area.
- Provide fresh water in a tip-proof container.
- Visit the dog
- Ask your local lawmakers to ban tethering. PETA can help!
“Dogs are dying across the country because they’re left outdoors without shade, without water, and without hope,” says PETA Senior Vice President Daphna Nachminovitch. “As the number of heat crises increases, PETA is urging residents to keep an eye out for dogs who need a helping hand.”
Since last year, there have been at least 100 hot weather–related animal deaths—and these are just the ones that have been reported. Most aren’t. Heat-related dog deaths reported just this month include the following: a dog in Boynton Beach, Florida, who died after being left outside in a tarp-covered crate; two dogs who died of heatstroke after being left outside in Ross County, Ohio; a dog named Sadie who was left outside in Raleigh, North Carolina, with no access to shelter, food, or water; a chained dog with no access to shade who was found dead in Indianapolis; and a chained dog named Blue in Rich Square, North Carolina, whom PETA’s rescue team went to check on and found dead after his chain had become tangled and he couldn’t reach water, shade, or a hole he had dug for himself in order to keep cool.
PETA offers more tips for keeping all animal companions safe in hot weather:
- Keep animals indoors. Unlike humans, dogs can sweat only through their paw pads and try to cool themselves by panting, so even brief sun exposure can have life-threatening consequences.
- Never leave an animal inside a hot vehicle. Temperatures in parked cars can quickly soar, and a dog trapped inside can die from heatstroke within minutes. PETA offers an emergency window-breaking hammer for help with intervening in life-or-death situations.
- Avoid hot pavement. When outdoor temperatures reach the 80s, asphalt temperatures can climb to 140 degrees, causing pain, burns, and permanent damage to dogs’ paws after just a few minutes of contact. Walk dogs on grass whenever possible, and avoid walking in the middle of the day.
PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way”—opposes speciesism, which is a human-supremacist worldview. For more information, please visit PETA.org.
