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18 - The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday June 7, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com Don't let summer be fatal for your pet S ummer can be fatal to pets. Owners unknowingly put their animals at risk endangering their lives with sometimes-deadly results. "Summer presents a number of hazards," said Oakville and District Humane Society Manager of Community Outreach and Education Heather White. "During the summer months we receive calls about dogs drowning in pools, cats falling off balconies and pets overheating in cars. All of these accidents are tragic and preventable." Care and caution is key to keeping your pet safe. Understanding summer dangers will help prevent unnecessary pet loss. pool and fail to find a way out." Dog and puppy drownings are unfortunately common ­ particularly puppies who are especially susceptible because they have no understanding of pools. Stop Before You Shop Going out to the mall? Leave pets at home. On hot days the Humane Society will commonly receive up to 10 calls daily about animals in cars. Cars quickly overheat. Keeping the window down slightly is not sufficient. Balconies Are Dangerous Each summer the Humane Society responds to distressed apartment dwellers with a pet that has fallen or jumped from their balcony. Travel Safe Travel safely with your pet in a crate or a specialized animal seatbelt. If travelling in a pick up truck, keep your dog in the cab area. On longer trips take breaks to allow your animal the chance to relieve itself and drink water. Pets keep their cool in moving cars that are well ventilated by slightly open windows or air conditioning. Animals travelling by boat for the first time may not adjust well. Introduce boat travel slowly. Life jackets are available for dogs and cats to help prevent mishaps. Water, Water, Water Pets, like people, need lots of water on summer days. Make sure that fresh water is available to your pet at all times. Make sure that all outdoor water dishes are freshened each day. PET OF THE WEEK: Harry Potter would love to find a loving family to take him home. For information visit www.oakvillehumane.ca, call 905-845-1551 or visit the shelter at 445 Cornwall Rd. Identification Each year hundreds of animals are abandoned in cottage country during the summer. Pets are more likely to become lost while following rural smells, chasing wildlife or roaming freely. Identification -- a dog licence tag, microchip, nametag ­ are key to keeping your pet connected to you. Keep Them Cool Take the heat out of summer for your pet with a cool approach to outdoor activities. Watch the heat and humidity before going outdoors. Dogs do not sweat like humans. They expel heat through panting, their ears and the pads of their feet. Walking in the early morning or late evening will help to avoid the heat of the day and prevent sensitive paw pads from burning on hot pavement. Leaving any pet outside in extreme heat is not a good idea. Visits outdoors should be brief and only allow time for dogs to relieve themselves. Although garages and doghouses may appear to offer a safe haven, the lack of airflow in either of these enclosures can cause your dog to quickly overheat in temperatures that exceed those of the outdoors. The best place for any pet on a hot day is in a cooled indoor environment. Supervise Water Play Taking a dip is a great way to chill down on hot summer days, but choose a safe way to make a splash with your pet. "People do not associate pools with a pet drowning," noted White, "but unsupervised cats and dogs can accidentally fall into a Please Join Us for a FREE Seminar How to In Half the Time Come Join noted Financial Expert Bruce McDougall and friends for a FREE Seminar not to be missed. Learn the secrets to paying off your mortgage in half the time. Seating is limited so reserve your seat today! Pay Off Your Mortgage Tuesday, June 10 th 7:00 - 8:00 pm Holiday Inn Oakville 590 Argus Road at the QEW and Trafalgar Call Now to Register 905.632.9805 or on the web at MyMortgageInHalfTheTime.com Receive a FREE CD from Bruce just for coming out. " Strategies for Wealth Management. " A $40.00 Value.