By Rebekah Johnson/Columnist

Summer in the Pacific Northwest is the best.

When the sun is shining and Mount Rainier is glistening in the distance, it feels almost magical around these parts. Lately though, the heat has skyrocketed and my dogs and I have certainly noticed the increasing temperatures.

High heat and summer activities can pose potential dangers for our pets. Here are some potential issues you may face as a pet owner, and ways you can help prevent any harm from happening to your pets.

Dogs

Heat

My dogs have no self-control and very little concern with self-preservation. You throw that tennis ball and they will chase it, even during the hottest point of the day when it is 90 degrees. They would chase that ball to the ends of the earth.

It is up to me to make sure my puppies are making safe decisions. This means playing with my dogs outside in the morning or evening and making sure they have plenty of water and shade during the hottest hours of the day.

The bottoms of our dogs’ feet are very sensitive. Before taking your dog for a walk on pavement, touch the pavement and keep your hand on  the surface for 30 seconds. If the heat of the concrete is uncomfortable for you to touch, do not walk your dog on that surface.

If your dog is having difficulty breathing, painting heavily, glazed eyes, excessive salivation, a temperature that exceeds 104 degrees, a rapid heartbeat, lethargy or lack of coordination, treat your dog for heatstroke immediately. Move your dog immediately to the shade or an air-conditioned area. Apply ice or cold packs to your dog’s head, neck and feet or run cool water over the dog. Take them immediately to a veterinarian.

Water

Not all dogs are natural swimmers. Before taking your dog to the beach or near any rivers, test their swimming abilities by easing them into the water while they are still on their leash.  Enter the water with them and make the swimming lesson a fun and stress-free experience.

No matter if your dog is a strong swimmer or not, keep dogs away from fishing materials and beach debris, never allow your dog to be in water unsupervised, keep a fence around your pool, get your dog a lifejacket (you will keep them safe and they will look snazzy!) for boating trips, and make sure to rinse your dog off after they have gone in the water (chlorine, seawater and certain algae’s can irritate your dog’s skin).

Most importantly, be aware of currents and keep your dog on a leash. At least three times a year, there are cases in Kitsap where a dog chases after a seagull or goes a little too far fetching a stick and they can easily be pulled out into the Sound by currents.

Cars

If it is over 68 degrees outside don’t leave your dog in the car. Not even for 5 minutes. Or with the window cracked.  Don’t leave them to just run in and buy a pint of Ben and Jerry’s Half Baked ice cream.  Just don’t do it. Seriously. When it is 70 degrees outside, your car will reach 89 degrees in 10 minutes and 104 degrees in 30 minutes. 104 degrees is a lethal heat for your dog.

What do you if you see a dog in a car on a hot day? Don’t break the car window. You will be liable for the damages. There is no law protecting you from charges or liability because you are helping a distressed animal. If you are at a store, go into the store and page for the owner to return to their car. If the owner can’t be found, call 911 and report the incident.

“Officers will assess the situation and determine if the dog needs to be immediately removed from the vehicle,” said Officer Chase Connelly, Animal Control Field Manager at Kitsap Humane Society. “If you leave a dog in a hot car, you can be issued a citation (similar to a speeding ticket). If your dog suffers from heat exhaustion from being left in the car, you can be charged with animal cruelty in the second degree which is a gross misdemeanor.”

Not only is it illegal to leave your dog in the car on a hot day, but it is also illegal in Kitsap County to have your dog unrestrained in the bed of your truck. The dog must be in a secured kennel. This is for the dog’s safety.

Cats

Fleas (also a potential risk for dogs!)

The fleas are coming, the fleas are coming!!! Fleas and parasites become more of an issue once it is warm outside. But fleas are not the only parasites to plague our pets. Make sure you take your cats and dogs to a veterinarian to discuss parasite prevention!

Love is in the air

Cats breed in the summer. This presents more subtle dangers to your cat. If your cat is not spayed or neutered, the urge to roam will increase and the potential for your pet to be lost will increase. Aggression can go up and cat fights can increase. Cat fights can lead to injury and infection. Over-breeding leads to overpopulation, increased disease and a public nuisance. Please make sure your cat is fixed before the summer really starts. For resources to help you control your local cat population, visit www.kitsap-humane.org/vet-services/low-cost-spayneuter.

Livestock

Grass

During the hot summer months, grass dies. If you have grazing animals like cows, horses, goats or llamas, this could lead to them running out of available grazing grass and looking longingly at your neighbor’s green and luscious buffet of grass. Incidences of escaped livestock go up in the summer months. Make sure your animals have secure enclosures and plenty to feed on.

Summer in the Pacific Northwest is an amazing time of year.  I wish you and your pet many adventures and sunny days of fun!