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Summer is not always the best time for animals

July 2, 2008

Contact: Norma Worley,
207-287-5531

AUGUSTA—The Department of Agriculture and the Animal Welfare Program would like to remind pet owners that, while the summer is a great time to enjoy the sunshine and outdoors, the season also creates situations that can be dangerous or even fatal for pets.

By taking the following precautions, pet owners can minimize the risk that disaster will strike:

• Don’t leave pets in parked cars for any period of time! Every summer animals left in parked cars suffer brain damage and die of heatstroke. On a warm day, even with the windows cracked, the temperature in a car can reach 120 degrees in a matter of minutes. Most people are not aware that dogs and cats can’t perspire and can only dispel heat by panting and through pads on their feet. An overheated car will not allow them to do that. If you see any animal in a parked car during the summer, alert the management of the shopping mall or grocery store. If the owner does not return promptly, call the local animal control or police.

• Summer is also a time when people work in their yard and fertilize their lawns or gardens. Plant food, fertilizer, and insecticides can prove lethal to the pet that ingests them. Keep concentrates in an area that is locked and inaccessible to both pets and children. When a pesticide has been used, keep the pets and kids off the treated area for the length of time specified on the label. If no time is specified, wait until the product has dried or has been watered by either you or Mother Nature. In addition, more than 700 plants can produce physiologically active or toxic substances in sufficient amounts to cause harmful effects in animals. In the case of a poisoning emergency, call the Northern New England Poison Center at 800-222-1222.

• Always provide plenty of water and shade for your pets while they’re enjoying the great outdoors so they can stay cool.

The Animal Welfare Program hopes that these suggestions will allow you and your pets to enjoy our beautiful Maine summers for many years to come.

With any questions, or for more information, call the Animal Welfare Program toll-free at: 877-269-9200, e-mail: animal.welfare@maine.gov, or check on-line at: http://www.maine.gov/agriculture/aw.

The purpose of the Animal Welfare Program is to insure humane and proper treatment of animals by developing, implementing, and administering a comprehensive program that upholds the animal welfare laws of Maine through communication, education, and enforcement.

Press Contact: Norma Worley, 207-287-5531, norma.j.worley@maine.gov