We all love spending the long, sunny days of summer outdoors with our furry companions, but being overeager in hot weather can spell danger. To prevent your pet from overheating, take these simple precautions provided by ASPCA experts:

• Visit the vet for a spring or early-summer checkup. Make sure your pets get tested for heartworm if they aren’t on year-round preventative medication.
• Pets can get dehydrated quickly, so give them plenty of fresh, clean water when it’s hot or humid outdoors. Make sure your pets have a shady place to get out of the sun, be careful not to over-exercise them, and keep them indoors when it’s extremely hot.
• Know the symptoms of overheating in pets, which include excessive panting or difficulty breathing, increased heart and respiratory rate, drooling, mild weakness, stupor or even collapse. Symptoms can also include seizures, bloody diarrhea and vomit along with an elevated body temperature of over 104 degrees.
• Animals with flat faces, like Pugs and Persian cats, are more susceptible to heat stroke since they cannot pant as effectively. These pets, along with the elderly, the overweight, and those with heart or lung diseases, should be kept cool in air-conditioned rooms as much as possible.
• Never leave your animals alone in a parked vehicle. Not only can it lead to fatal heat stroke, it is illegal in several states!
• Do not leave pets unsupervised around a pool—not all dogs are good swimmers. Introduce your pets to water gradually and make sure they wear flotation devices when on boats. Rinse your dog off after swimming to remove chlorine or salt from his fur, and try to keep your dog from drinking pool water, which contains chlorine and other chemicals.
• Open unscreened windows pose a real danger to pets, who often fall out of them. Keep all unscreened windows or doors in your home closed, and make sure adjustable screens are tightly secured.
• Feel free to trim longer hair on your dog, but never shave your dog: The layers of dogs’ coats protect them from overheating and sunburn. Brushing cats more often than usual can prevent problems caused by excessive heat. And be sure that any sunscreen or insect repellent product you use on your pets is labeled specifically for use on animals.
• When the temperature is very high, don’t let your dog linger on hot asphalt. Being so close to the ground, your pooch’s body can heat up quickly, and sensitive paw pads can burn. Keep walks during these times to a minimum.
• Commonly used rodenticides and lawn and garden insecticides can be harmful to cats and dogs if ingested, so keep them out of reach. Keep citronella candles, tiki torch products and insect coils of out pets’ reach as well. Call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 if you suspect your animal has ingested a poisonous substance.
• Remember that food and drink commonly found at barbeques can be poisonous to pets. Keep alcoholic beverages away from pets, as they can cause intoxication, depression and comas. Similarly, remember that the snacks enjoyed by your human friends should not be a treat for your pet; any change of diet, even for one meal, may give your dog or cat severe digestive ailments. Avoid raisins, grapes, onions, chocolate and products with the sweetener xylitol. Please visit our People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets page for more information.
• Please leave pets at home when you head out to Fourth of July celebrations, and never use fireworks around pets. Exposure to lit fireworks can potentially result in severe burns or trauma, and even unused fireworks can contain hazardous materials. Many pets are also fearful of loud noises and can become lost, scared or disoriented, so it’s best to keep your little guys safe from the noise in a quiet, sheltered and escape-proof area of your home.

For other ways to help, download and share our hot weather safety infographic to alert others of the dangers your pets may face during the summer.

https://www.aspca.org/

It feels like we blinked and boom - summer is here. It comes and goes as quickly as that, so I try to make every day count (especially living in the north!).

Here's some fun ideas to add to your summer bucket list to make it the most memorable year yet.

Have a picnic.

It only takes an hour or two and it's a fun, relaxing activity with a family or friend. If you can't find someone who is available, bring your furry friend along!

Spend the day at the beach.

Nothing beats the feeling of the sun on your face and the sound of waves in the distance. If you aren't close to a beach, go to a friend's pool or your city's pool for some water fun.

Go to an amusement park.

Take the kids and head to your local water park or amusement park to make some fun memories. You'll definitely take some fun pictures and have a lot of laughs!

Throw a BBQ at your house.

Have you always "talked" about getting together with your friends for dinner, but it never happened? Well, now's your chance! Grill up all of those savory foods you've been thinking about all summer and host a great evening at your place.

Go camping for a weekend.

If you're craving the outdoors, this one is for you. Pick a weekend to unplug from your life, and soak in the scenery and wildlife.

Stargaze.

Summer is the perfect time to go stargazing. Drive far away from the city lights to look at the many constellations and planets in the sky! Experts say the best places to stargaze are national or state parks.

Attend a bonfire.

There's no better way to end the night than with a warm fire and some roasted marshmallows!

Watch a movie at a drive-in theater.

It's rare to find a drive-in theater nowadays. If there's one located near you, go watch your favorite flick for a memorable experience.

Go to the zoo.

If you want to do a fun, affordable activity with your kids, this one is for you. They will love seeing their favorite animals up close, and depending on the zoo, they may offer some interactive exhibits for the kids.

Go on a mini vacation.

If you need some new scenery, planning a weekend getaway will be the perfect cure. Look up the nearest vacation town near you, book the hotel, start driving and don't look back! You'll thank me later.

Before you know it, the cold will be back (in some parts of the country), school will be in session…and you'll be thinking about the smell of that bonfire or how the sand felt between your toes.

Injury Prevention Jet Skiing cartoon Personal watercraft devices (PWC), such as jet ski's, can be an exciting water-based activity, but it can also be dangerous and precautions must be taken. In 2018, the US Coast Guard (USCG) reported 634 injuries attributed to a personal watercraft; 196 of those injuries occurred to children ages 19 and under. Injuries such as broken bones, concussions, sprains/strains and scrapes/bruises were most common. Of all reported accidents to the USCG, the main causes were operator inexperience, operator inattention, improper lookout, excessive speed and violation of navigation rules.

Jet skis are considered boats, and operators must obey all boating rules while on the water. Since January 1, 2000, all individuals who operate a personal watercraft must have completed a certified boater safety course.

Safety Tips

• Children under the age of 16 should not operate a waverunner.
• Take a safe boating course and have your child/children take a safe boating course.
• Always have a life jacket (or personal flotation safety device) on board for each passenger.
• Make sure that your life jacket and your passenger’s life jackets fit properly and support your individual weights. (See Life Jacket Safety Chart.)
• Never mix jet skiing and alcohol.
• Always make sure an adult is watching you and/or your child from the shore.
• When driving a jet ski with a passenger, make sure your passenger is ready to go before you start.
• When riding a jet ski when someone else is driving, make sure that you are holding on tightly. Inform the driver if your hands slip or if you are not ready to go.
• Never start your engine without attaching the cord that is connected to the start/stop switch or your key to your life jacket or wrist. If you fall off, the machine will automatically stop.
• Each rider should wear eye protection, a wetsuit (in colder weather), footwear and gloves.
• Always watch for bad weather conditions.
• Keep hands, feet, hair and clothing away from the pump intake.
• Never operate a jet ski in water that’s less than 24-inches deep.
• Know your water terrain.

Source: chp.edu

Know Your Hurricane Risk

Hurricanes are not just a coastal problem. Find out how rain, wind, water and even tornadoes could happen far inland from where a hurricane or tropical storm makes landfall. Start preparing now.

Make an Emergency Plan

Make sure everyone in your household knows and understands your hurricane plans. Include the office, kids’ day care, and anywhere else you frequent in your hurricane plans. Ensure your business has a continuity plan to continue operating when disaster strikes.

Know your Evacuation Zone

You may have to evacuate quickly due to a hurricane if you live in an evacuation zone. Learn your evacuation routes, practice with your household and pets, and identify where you will stay.

Follow the instructions from local emergency managers, who work closely with state, local, tribal, and territorial agencies and partners. They will provide the latest recommendations based on the threat to your community and appropriate safety measures.

Recognize Warnings and Alerts

Have several ways to receive alerts. Download the FEMA app and receive real-time alerts from the National Weather Service for up to five locations nationwide. Sign up for community alerts in your area and be aware of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA), which require no sign up.

Those with Disabilities

Identify if you may need additional help during an emergency if you or anyone else in your household is an individual with a disability.

Review Important Documents

Make sure your insurance policies and personal documents, such as ID, are up to date. Make copies and keep them in a secure password-protected digital space.

Strengthen your Home

De-clutter drains and gutters, bring in outside furniture, and consider hurricane shutters.

Get Tech Ready

Keep your cell phone charged when you know a hurricane is in the forecast and purchase backup charging devices to power electronics.

Help your Neighborhood

Check with neighbors, senior adults, or those who may need additional help securing hurricane plans to see how you can be of assistance to others

Gather Supplies

Have enough supplies for your household, include medication, disinfectant supplies and pet supplies in your go bag or car trunk. You may not have access to these supplies for days or even weeks after a hurricane.

Source: ready.gov