Heatwaves And The Devastating Social Media Posts That Follow...

We just endured our second heatwave of the Spring season. In order to have an official heatwave, you must have 3 consecutive days of 90+ degree temperatures. This has already happened in our neck of the woods. It's still Spring. The official Summer season won't arrive for another week...on June 21st, at 12:24 a.m. That is rather significant. In the past month, we've broken several weather related records.

Due to the recent heatwaves, social media posts about negligent pet parents have already surfaced. It happens every year. Dog parents leave their fur-kids in the car. Dog parents take their fur-kids for a walk on pavement and they suffer from burned pads. Dog parents leave their fur-kids out in the yard without adequate means of cooling off.  And, more recently, I read a heartbreaking story of a dog that was left outside during the most recent heatwave by the family's nanny.

The poor pup was left outside too long, without water, and died of heatstroke. The Dog parents found their dog lifeless. Outside. 

Once again, my desk caught tear drops. I can't even begin to imagine. I won't even go into details about the suffering this pup endured before it passed away. 

It's difficult to even write a blog post addressing this. I can feel my throat tighten and I'm fighting back tears. 

Sadly, this happens a lot. Of all the stories that are posted and make headlines, there's a lot that don't. It happens more than you think. Pups are left outside during heatwaves and in the winter when temperatures are well below freezing.

These babies die.

During heatwaves, we limit the amount of time our kids spend outside. They're NEVER outside unattended. One, or both, of us is always out there. 

In our fenced in backyard, we don't have shade. Coco, Sophie, and Lobo don't like kiddie pools. We haven't tried one yet with Willa. 

I'm fairly certain she'd like it.

Even with fresh, cold water available, their tiny bodies heat up quickly, especially if they're running around. When it's 85 degrees or above, they're allowed 10-15 minutes at a time. That's it. Sometimes, if they've had enough before that amount of time, they'll sit at the gate. That means, "Take me inside, Mom." We do. 

During extreme cold, that number decreases especially if the temperatures are below 0. 

How can anyone let their fur-kid with no water or shade or means to cool off, and just leave them there? 

I don't get it. 

I never will.