Hot weather means leave pets at home

PASCO, Wash.-- Temperatures in the Tri-Cities are expected to stay in the nineties, even approaching 100 degrees, and that means we need to leave pets at home where they're safest.

"It's just smart to leave dogs at home. We want to get them out and have them run errands with us, but this is not a good time of the year to do that," said Deb Sporcich with Tri-Cities Animal Control. "Even if you're in the shade, even if you have the windows rolled down, your dog is still at risk because it gets hot in there."

Sporcich says if you have have to travel with your dog, bring another person with you and have them sit in the car with the dog. Then you know that the dog's not too hot.

If you see an animal that appears to be in distress from being left alone in a hot car, call Animal Control or non-emergency dispatch at 509-628-0333.

Sporcich says it's also important to make sure that outside pets have what they need to keep them safe during the hot summer months, including shelter to protect them from the sun and rain, and access to plenty of clean water, in accordance with the ordinances in your city.