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Pets get break from summer heat photo by Bob Pennell Clouds delight those who prefer cool days By Jonel Aleccia Forecasts of cloud cover and cool mornings may have disappointed some Fourth of July revelers, but for four-legged party animals, the holiday weather change is a potentially life-saving break from summer�s heat. Recent warm temperatures boosted reports of dogs confined in closed cars, prompting warnings from area animal-rights advocates. Several concerned pet-lovers called the Southern Oregon Humane Society and the Jackson County Animal Control center last week, worried about potentially deadly effects on cooped-up pooches. "We�ve been getting probably three calls a day," said Kathy Pilolla, director of communications and development for the Humane Society. "They�re all asking us to do something about it." Ditto for the county shelter, where dispatcher Susan Dukart responds to calls by sending a police officer to the offending site. Most often, officers find dogs � and sometimes cats � left without water in closed or barely ventilated cars. On even a moderately warm day � 80 degrees or so � the temperature inside a parked car can soar to 160 degrees within minutes, Pilolla said. That can be deadly to furry animals, which typically have body temperatures about 5 degrees higher than humans. When they�re confined to a car or a yard with no way to escape the heat, their body temperature soars, putting the animals at risk for potentially fatal heat stroke. "In the presence of heat and without ventilation, a dog�s temperature rapidly rises to 110 degrees," Pilolla said. "If left in that condition, it will die." Leaving an animal in a hot car can lead to misdemeanor charges of animal neglect or abuse, depending on the severity of the incident. As summer temperatures return to the mid-80s this week, animal advocates remind pet owners to consider the effects of heat. For Pilolla, that means scheduling errands for times when her two Dalmatians, Daisy and Jazz, aren�t along for the ride. The dogs accompany her to work daily, so Pilolla has had to change her routine to accommodate them. "In recent weeks, I�ve had to be resourceful because I can�t leave them in the car even for five minutes," she said. The humane society offers advice for caring for pets in hot weather: Provide fresh, clean, cool drinking water at all times to prevent dehydration. Provide shelter from the sun, including shade and adequate ventilation. Keep pets groomed. Clip long or matted coats short to help pets stay cool. Don�t cut coats too short, however; dogs can sunburn, too. Exercise animals in the morning or evening, when it�s cooler. If a pet exhibits symptoms of heat stroke � excessive panting, heavy salivating, immobility �immerse the animal slowly in cool water to lower body temperature and then contact a veterinarian. Obituaries | Sports | Business | Classifieds | Tempo | Prime Times | So Oregon Sites | Outdoor Journal | Subscribe | Contact | Movies | Advertise | Real Estate Showcase | Archive | Editorials | Letters to the editor | Religion | Wake-up Call | NIE | Cyber Chef | Job Network | So Oregon Weather | WSJ Northwest | Forums | AP Wire | AP Money | F.A.Q. | Awards Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. The Community Newspaper Subsidiary of Dow Jones & Co, Inc Copyright �The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA