Check out our latest Newsletter for some great articles!
"Is it too hot to take my dog along today?"
It is that time of the year again. The weather was beautiful, the sun was shining and it was warm out. On Sunday, I noticed an older Cocker Spaniel in a parked car at the Wal Mart and the windows wear slightly cracked. The dog was panting and when I walked over it jumped up to the window and appeared anxious to get out.
I went inside to have the owner paged. I checked the time and the dog had been in the car for at least 13 min. from the time I noticed him.
It gets hot EXTREMELY fast in cars, especially when there is NO SHADE!
Q: Why can't I leave my dog in my locked car in the summer when
it is 80+ degrees outside?
A: It can cause the animal to suffer a horrible death or have long term damage
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A dog's normal body temperature is between 101 to 102 degrees.
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Dogs can't sweat, so in order to keep their bodies from overheating they must pant. If they can't expel heat fast enough their body temperature rises.
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A rise of 3 degrees to
105 is enough to put your dog into a dangerous situation.
- Dog can no longer reduce body heat
- Oxygen demand goes up to where the dog cannot keep up
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A rise to
108 degrees can be life threatening.
- Heart, brain, liver,kidneys, and intestines start breaking down at a cellular level at a fast rate. Even with immediate attention the animal can have internal damage that will affect their health in the long term
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On a summer's day of only 85 degrees, for example, even keeping the windows slightly open won't stop the inside temperature from climbing to
102 degrees in 10 minutes
120 degrees in 20 minutes
It is against the law
- Humane Care for Animals Act Chapter 510, in Illinois states, (Sec. 7.1). "No owner or person shall confine any animal in a motor vehicle in such a manner that places it in a life or health threatening situation by exposure to a prolonged period of extreme heat or cold, without proper ventilation or other protection from such heat or cold. In order to protect the health and safety of an animal, an animal control officer, law enforcement officer, or Department investigator who has probable cause to believe that this Section is being violated shall have authority to enter such motor vehicle by any reasonable means under the circumstances after making a reasonable effort to locate the owner or person." CONTACT LAW ENFORCEMENT OR ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER IMMEDIATELY if you see an animal in distress.
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Carbondale Animal Control: 457-3200 ext. 424
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Carbondale Police Dept: 457-3200
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Murphysboro Animal Control: 684-3121
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Murphysboro Police Dept: 684-5244
Signs of Heat Stroke and Taking Action
- Symptoms: Heavy panting, hot dry nose, glazed eyes, a rapid heartbeat, restlessness, excessive thirst, lethargy, fever, dizziness, lack of coordination, profuse salivation, vomiting, a deep red or purple tongue, and unconsciousness.
- Treatment: Take steps to gradually lower the body temperature immediately.
- Move the animal into the shade or an air-conditioned area.
- Apply ice packs or cold towels to head, neck, and chest or immerse in cool (not cold) water.
- Let animal drink small amounts of cool water or lick ice cubes.
- Take animal directly to a veterinarian.
It's not cool to leave your dog in a hot car. Please let people know as well.
Print of some of these flyers to have with you so you can leave them for people who have left their dogs in cars:
For more information, visit
www.MyDogIsCool.com
Featured Pets of the Week!!
Franz |
Skye
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 Lady Chase
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Daphne
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As much as we'd like to, those of us who really love animals can't adopt them all. However, there are alternative ways to help homeless animals. One very valuable way to help is to help support them financially. It takes a lot of money to take in nearly 4,000 unwanted animals a year.
The animals come in day after day and we need the dollars that support them to do the same.
To learn more see our Volunteer and Donate sections
or
Help Out by becoming a Petco Volunteer
In cooperation with Petco, HSSI is able to house some cats at the Carbondale Petco to increase their chances of finding a loving home. We rely on volunteers to help make sure the cats have food and water and that their litter boxes are cleaned out.
On Saturdays and Sundays, we like to have at least 2 volunteers to take one or two shelter dogs to Petco and to answer general questions from the public about adoption and the animals we have available.
Please contact cattinari@jadeturtle.com to learn more.
Why adopting a dog is better than buying one from a "backyard breeder" puppy mill/kennel or Pet Store
The thing "backyard breeders", puppy mills (kennels) and Pet Stores have in common is that they view animals as merchandise and are out solely to make a profit.
The parents of those cute little puppies listed in newspapers or in the window of pet stores often suffer unimaginable lives of pain and misery living out their lives in small inadequate cages of filth with no human companionship. Puppy Millers often like to refer to themselves as a "kennel", but make no mistake. All you have to do is ask them for a tour of the facility or to see the puppies mother and you will know it is actually a puppy mill.
Often those little puppies have hidden illness/congenital defects that can be costly to treat, cause lifelong problems (allergies, joint problems), or worse death. I have heard of pet stores offering guarantees of your money back or another puppy as if this animals life matters no more than faulty electronics one would return/exchange.
Rescue groups like HSSI take in thousands of unwanted animals due to overpopulation. They do this because they love animals and do not make a profit at all. They want to find loving homes where animals will be a respected cherished member of a family for the rest of their lives.
The animals you will find at shelters or rescue groups are wonderful, healthy animals that range from small to large, mutt to purebred. There is no excuse not to adopt!
To learn more check out our puppy mill brochure.
Suspect Backyard Breeder/Puppy Mills when...
Shelter Building Renovations
Our stray kennel area and adoption runs are in dire need of renovations. We are looking forward this year to trying to come up with a plan to allow us to build a new stray kennels and in turn allow us to make repairs to the existing stray kennel to provide more room and hopefully a quarantine area for more dangerous animals that come in. This in the early stages of planning, but if you can offer your expertise or support in this matter it would be greatly appreciated.
01/31/08 update: We have had a contractors come to the shelter and take a look at the stray kennels.
