The summer solstice is a rough time for AZPyrs Rescue, and with temperatures nearing 100 degrees in April, it looks like it's going to be a long, hot season.
Seasonal A/C maintenance has already been completed in the kennel. Heavy blankets have been replaced with "cool cots" and we have fans running 24/7 to circulate the air underneath. Soon it will be time to freeze the water buckets so the dogs will always have nice, fresh cold water to lap up.
Many of the resident and rescued Pyrs' are also getting "spa treatment." Undercoats are being pulled at an amazing rate; hand scissoring and belly shaves are the new fashion "norm." Some are even getting puppy cuts! Everything is done to keep these big, white, hairy beasts comfortable during our time in Hades.
Now, your personal pooch might not have a heavy coat like a Great Pyrenees, but there are some very important things to remember - especially during a hot Arizona summer:
1. Make sure your dog always has a fresh, clean supply of water, and if left out of doors, make sure there is adequate shade!
2. If the concrete, roadway or sidewalk is too hot for you to walk on barefoot, think how hot it is for your dog! Even gravel in yards heats up big-time! Invest in a pair of booties for your friend!
3. Not only do you have to watch your children around water, you need to watch your dog! Some dogs are accomplished swimmers, some are not. Teach your dog how to get out of the pool. Do not leave them unsupervised! Many long-coated dogs can develop nasty skin infections from too much chlorine and being wet all the time.
4. Keep your dog groomed/brushed out in the summer. Knotted and tangled hair is not only painful for Fido, it does not breathe and let air in.
5. Watch for scorpions!
6. Is your dog terrified of loud noises, fireworks or thunder storms? A "Thundershirt," used to relieve anxiety, might be the answer! In extreme cases, take your dog to the vet - there ARE prescription medications that work!
7. Relax and enjoy your pet. Summer will be over in, let's say, October!
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