Summertime means peak breeding season for cats and dogs, and this time of year, we see multiple litters of puppies and kittens come into the shelter daily. In addition, the aftermath of the 4th of July festivities typically results in 250-300 dogs who have been spooked by fireworks being lost and coming into the shelter in just a week. Unfortunately, the influx of pets during the summer often coincides with fewer pets leaving for foster and adoptive homes, as college students have headed home, snowbirds have headed north, and folks go on summer vacations.
In addition, our Animal Protection Services team is on high alert for pet safety during these summer months, as temperatures place pets at risk of overheating. PACC’s Animal Protection Officers respond to hundreds of calls every year involving pets that were left outdoors, in a vehicle, or in another avoidable situation that puts them at risk.
- Foster or adopt! PACC is always looking for fosters and adopters for pets, especially medium-to-large dogs, and the need is especially high in the summer months. Dogs and puppies are currently free to adopt at PACC, and all pets adopted from the shelter are spayed/neutered, microchipped, and up to date on vaccines. If you can’t do forever, even a two-week break in foster care can be a true life-changer for these pets!
- In these triple-digit temperatures, it’s critical to remember that pets’ time outside should be limited, and they should always have access to cool water and shade. Pets should never be left alone in a car, where temperatures can skyrocket to deadly levels in minutes, and take care of those tootsies, too; in the summer, pavement temperatures during the heat of the day can easily reach 160 degrees and above, burning sensitive paws in a minute or less.
- Any pet can go missing; in fact, industry data shows that 1 in 3 pets will go missing at some point in their lives. The good news? There are plenty of steps you can take to make sure they’ll make it back home quickly if they’re lost. The quickest and most effective way of getting pets home is a simple collar and tag with up-to-date information. If you need a tag for your pet, PACC offers custom ID tags to anyone who needs them, any time we’re open! Simply visit the Central Pet store in our lobby!
- If you find a healthy, friendly stray pet, the best thing you can do for them is try to find their owner. Many folks don’t realize that a pet’s likelihood of making it back home dramatically decreases when they’re taken out of their neighborhood and brought to a shelter. Uploading their photo to lost.petcolove.org, which uses facial recognition technology to match lost and found pets, hanging flyers, posting on local social media, and simply walking the pet around the neighborhood are all more likely to reunite pets with their family than bringing them to the shelter is.
