Four dogs – including two cases from Bolesławiec and two from the surrounding area – did not survive the recent high temperatures. This information was provided to us by A&P, a local animal funeral home, which published an emotional appeal to owners after the weekend.
In a post published on its social media profile, the company pointed out that extreme temperatures are dangerous not only for people. It appealed to owners to provide animals with shade and adequate hydration and to limit their time in direct sunlight.
– We had not experienced a situation like this for many years, but we worked very intensively this weekend – Piotr Tutak told istotne.pl Piotr Tutak. The reports concerned large dogs that apparently were unable to cope with the high temperature.
According to our interviewee, the problem does not always result from owners’ neglect. Piotr Tutak also drew attention to difficult housing conditions during the heatwave and the lack of ability to cool rooms effectively. At the same time, he stressed that an animal left for many hours in a heated kennel or without access to a shaded place may find itself in a life-threatening situation.
The company’s representative also spoke about cases in which animals had access to water but were staying in heavily sunlit places. In his view, many owners do not realize that symptoms of overheating or heatstroke in an animal may not be immediately obvious.
Veterinarians have been reminding people for years that during hot weather, animals should have constant access to fresh, cool water, the opportunity to shelter in the shade, and limited activity during the hottest hours of the day. Dogs that are older, large, overweight, or belong to breeds that tolerate high temperatures poorly are particularly at risk.
Specialists also point out that intense panting, weakness, disorientation, difficulty moving, or a sudden deterioration in an animal’s condition, among other symptoms, should cause concern. In such situations, prompt contact with a veterinarian is recommended.
The funeral home stresses that its aim was not to assign blame, but to draw attention to the risks associated with a heatwave and to remind people that high temperatures can be just as dangerous for animals as they are for humans.