You would probably need to be living on Mars to not know how hot it is in Sydney today. Either that or have no access to news or social media. It was 35*C by 8am {95*F for our US friends}. By 8am.

Pets, even if they are usually outdoors pets {but don’t get me started on that!} should be inside today. As always, they should have access to cold, fresh water – always best to make sure their bowls are full and even top them up just before you leave the house. I put some extra ice cubes in Bella and Beary’s bowls this morning before I left. 

I also left the air conditioning on and shut the doors. There are puppy training pee mats on the floor in the laundry. I’d rather go home and have to clean up a mess than go home to a dog with heat stroke.

Which brings me to dogs left in cars. Any day, but in particular days like today. Do not do it. Not even ‘just for a minute’. A dog can die in 6 minutes in a car. Six. Minutes. And it’s a horrid death. So if you see a dog in a hot car, do all you can to get that dog out. If you are in NSW, call RSPCA NSW immediately on 1300 278 3589 (1300 CRUELTY).

If you think your dog is suffering heat stress, it needs to see a vet as an emergency.
From the RSPCA:

Emergency treatment is aimed at bringing the body temperature down at a steady rate; spray cool water onto your dog’s body and use a fan. Don’t use ice or ice-cold water as this may cool your dog down too rapidly.

Wildlife also suffer in this heat. If you have a balcony or a back yard, please leave out a bowl of water for any critters who may stop by your place for a drink!

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