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Hot dogs and cool cats – advice for pet owners

Helen Burchell
BBC News, Cambridgeshire
RSPCA A woman wearing a blue T-shirt and shorts is filling a small plastic pool with water. A black dog is standing in the pool.RSPCA
Dogs can be kept cool in paddling pools – but only while they are supervised

A charity made famous by Channel 4's series The Dog House has been sharing tips on keeping pets cool during the hot weather.

Woodgreen Pets Charity, based in Godmanchester, Cambridgeshire, hosts the popular rehoming show.

With temperatures set to reach more than 30C and England under an amber heat warning, Jody Geary, the charity's senior operations manager, said keeping animals cool was "a top priority".

She said all their enclosures had air conditioning and dogs were walked only in the early mornings or evenings, when it was cooler.

Getty Images A close-up of a dog drinking from a hosepipe directed at its mouth. The dog is black and white and is on a lawn.Getty Images
Dogs love a bit of water to play in

"To beat the heat, we take dogs for walks early in the morning when temperatures are at their lowest," Ms Geary said.

"Throughout the day, activities are kept low-impact and take place either indoors in air-conditioned rooms or in well-shaded outdoor areas.

"Many of our dogs also enjoy splashing in cool water paddling pools, and we treat our pets to frozen, edible snacks to help them stay refreshed."

Getty Images A tortoiseshell cat with mainly white fur is looking out from underneath a shady bush.Getty Images
Cats benefit from cool and shady areas in gardens if they are let out in the heat

People could use similar methods to keep their own pets cool at home, she said.

"This includes simple measures such as walking your dog between 05:00 and 07:00 or in the late evening; moving outdoor small pet enclosures to a shaded part of your garden; and placing extra plant pots and cat-friendly plants around your garden for additional shade for cats."

She said homes could be kept cooler by keeping curtains closed during the day.

"Glass acts as a radiator and the sunshine bursting through your house can quickly heat up a room. Switch on a fan to circulate as much cool air as possible and keep the hot air out," she said.

BBC Weather Watchers/Fen Lass A robin sitting in a stone birdbath which is full of water.BBC Weather Watchers/Fen Lass
Wildlife needs water during the hot weather, too
Woodgreen Two rabbits in a wooden enclosure covered with a red towel. They are sitting on a white tile.Woodgreen
Rabbit hutches at Woodgreen are covered to give protection from the sun, and the animals are given cool ceramic tiles to sleep on

The RSPCA has also issued advice, saying "the soaring temperatures can pose huge risks to pets, wildlife and farm animals".

Carrie Stones, the charity's campaign manager, said: "It's important we do everything we can to keep them cool and comfortable while the heat is here."

Some of its tips include filling a paddling pool or spraying a hose for your dog to play in – although you should always supervise them around water.

Fish tanks should be kept out of direct sunlight and outdoor animals should be provided with shade and plenty of fresh water.

"It's also a really helpful idea to support local wildlife, too, by popping out some bowls of water to help birds, foxes and other wildlife," said Ms Stones.

A close-up of the face of a black dog. It is sitting in a large pool and its fur is wet. There is another dog swimming close by and a woman is next to the pool watching them.
It's OK – they can swim

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