Pet tips and resources

Summer heat safety tips

Animals cannot sweat like humans, and they are vulnerable to overheating quickly, especially when the temperature rises above 80 degrees. Be sure your pets are ready for the summer heat with these safety tips:

• Be sure to provide plenty of fresh, cool water to pets, and shade from the sun.
• Though pets still need exercise during warm weather, take extra care when exercising older dogs, short-nosed dogs, and dogs with thick coats, as they are especially vulnerable to overheating.
• On hot days, limit your pet's walks to early morning or evening hours. Remember that pavement gets very hot and can burn your pet's paws.
• NEVER leave your pet in a car on a hot day. In sunny weather, the temperature inside a car can quickly rise to 120 degrees or more, even with windows left slightly open. Animals left in a hot car, even for just a few minutes, can suffer from heat stroke, brain damage, or death.
• If you see an animal in distress from the heat, call 9-1-1 or if you live in the RASKC service area call 206-296-7387 (PETS).

Animal resources

RASKC is pleased to share these behavior and wellness resources from nationally recognized animal welfare organizations. You can also find more resources on our Pet Assistance Program page.

Cats

• Your new cat
• Aggression between cats
• Cat aggression towards people
• Destructive scratching
• Fearful behavior in cats
• Introducing cat to cat
• Introducing cats to other pets
• Litter box problems
• Marking behavior
• Overstimulation in cats
• Adopting an under-socialized cat
• Play with your cat

Cat Extras

• Fear Free: Cats
• Maddie's Fund
• PAWS: Cats Library
• Seattle Humane resources

Dogs

• Your new dog
• Aggressive behavior
• Barking
• Destructive chewing
• Crate training
• Dog reactivity
• Fearful behavior
• House training
• Introducing dog to dog
• Loose leash walking
• Preventing jumping
• Resource guarding
• Separation anxiety
• Interacting safely with dogs
• Children and dogs
• Under-socialized dogs
• Dog enrichment

Dog Extras

• GoodPup
• AKC: Why/How to use positive reinforcement training
• Humane Society of the United States: Positive Reinforcement
• Fear Free: Dogs
• Maddie's Fund
• PAWS: Dogs Library
• Seattle Humane resources

Wildlife

RASKC values our animal welfare partner, Progressive Animal Welfare Society (PAWS). We work closely with PAWS on issues related to pet adoption, animal rehabilitation, and wildlife.

• I found a baby bird! What should I do?
• I found a baby mammal! What should I do?

For more information, please visit the PAWS Wildlife Resource Library. You can also visit the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife for information.