As more and more of man’s best friend seem to be coming out of hibernation and onto Market Street, we should remember that the July heat may affect our pets as much as us.
As a good reminder, the pads of dogs’ feet are not any thicker than humans, so if the ground feels hot to our own bare feet then it’s just as hot to our dog’s. Assuming you are not walking barefoot on the public sidewalks, use this test to see if its safe for the four-legged friend:
- Press your own bare hands on the pavement for at least 8 seconds to assess heat level, since the air temperature is NOT an accurate reflection of ground temperature.
Be mindful of hot surfaces other than asphalt, too, like metal (i.e. Ballard boat docks) and walk your pup on the cool side of the street or in the grass.
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