1. Apply sunscreen around light-colored areas - be aware that human sunscreen can harm pets if ingested. Visit your favorite pet supply store for pet-safe sunscreens
2. Provide shade - when trees and shrubs aren't available, awnings create shade on demand and provide a cool, protected area for you and your best friend.
3. Supply plenty of water - pets can get dehydrated, keep bowls of fresh water available both indoors and out for dogs, cats and small caged pets such as bunnies, birds, hamsters and guinea pigs.
4. Use cooling aides - try a child's wading pool or lawn sprinkler; portable fans that attach to kennels are also available at pet stores. For instant relief, use a damp towel around your pet's collar.
5. Do not leave pet unattended in your car - the interior temperature in your car can be dangerously high (upwards of 160°F). Leave your pet at home while you run your errands to be assured that your pet stays happy and healthy.
This video was produced with our family pets. Several of our video stars were adopted from rescue organizations and humane societies. Awnings Today advocates for proper pet care. See the panels below for profiles on our favorite furry friends.
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Dakota, an eight-year-old German Shepherd, and Wrigley, a black tri-colored Australian Shepherd are both purebred dogs, purchased from reputable, American Kennel Club-registered breeders after careful research. They have both received extensive obedience training and socialization -- very important to maintaining a happy, healthy homelife. Dakota weighs nearly 100 pounds and loves the shade. He also loves the wading pool that we keep full in our backyard. Dakota's huge ears perk up at the suggestion of a long walk in the neighborhood, followed by a cool drink of water and a nice nap in his cool backyard.
Wrigley, the Aussie, loves to fetch and run around our fenced yard with his kids. Lots of activity and dark, heavy hair make fresh water and plenty of shade absolute necessities to keeping him in top form. Wrigley likes to sleep in his kennel so we attach a battery-operated fan to it to keep him cool.
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Dakota & Wrigley share their family with Boo the Black Cat. Boo, an inside cat, loves to sit in the window and watch the birds, butterflies and squirrels that frequent his backyard and often wander past his window perch. He loves his canine brothers and often shares their water bowl without a second thought. Boo was adopted from the Animal Humane Society in Minneapolis, MN about a year ago. His mother and littermates were abandoned in a deserted building. We brought him home when he was just 10 weeks old, a poor little skinny kitten but plenty playful. After careful nurturing, proper nutrition and lots of love -- this healthy loving black cat now rules the roost. |
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Bunnita is a beautiful gray female Netherland Dwarf rabbit who was born in the Coulee Region Humane Society in Onalaska, Wisconsin. She has enormous eyes, the softest fur you’ve ever felt, and a Princess personality. She is fearless, despite being the smallest domestic rabbit breed, very intelligent and a master of escape. She likes to get up on things to look around and will do just about anything to get a Craisin. Bunnita is an adventurous, strong-willed wild one who loves to run circles around Gatsby at warp speed and twist in the air just for fun. She does not approve of things in her way, picking up oak leaves on the lawn and smartly placing each to one side.
Gatsby is a 6-1/2-year-old medium Dutch male bunny whose half-black and half-white coloring is similar to a Hampshire hog. He was three years old when we got him from the Minnesota Companion Rabbit Society at a Roseville Petco event. Gatsby is a cautious, level-headed fellow who likes “four on the floor,” and does not like being off the ground at all. He loves kale and Craisins, and asks to be petted. His favorite activities outside of napping are to travel unseen through the lilies like a tiger, and also charge across the yard shaking his ears to impress Bunnita. |
Gatsby and Bunnita have a vast shady area in the backyard where their luxurious wooden summer chalet is located. They have several yard friends including squirrels and chipmunks and they actually come quite close to one another. The bunnies spend the warm spring, summer and fall days out in our Bunny National Wildlife Area, and the nights in our renovated kitchen. They winter in the house, and are very grateful that we installed a heated floor for them! These adventurous bunnies even have been canoeing in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area of Northern Minnesota. |
Rodney is a nine-year-old, red merle Australian Shepherd. As with most Aussies, Rodney is usually an energetic sort. He loves long walks in the woods, a good game of fetch, and eradicating squirrels from his yard. He’s a gentle pup who loves playing with neighborhood kids almost as much as playing with other canines. He’s even quite tolerant of the new kitty, Jaylynn, which moved into his home just over a year ago.
However, when temperatures begin to climb, his thick coat becomes a little burdensome. During the summer months, Rodney dials it back a bit, and ascribes to the “dog days” philosophy of finding cool places to sit and snooze. |
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Born in Kentucky, Rodney was adopted through the Aussie Rescue and Placement Helpline, Inc. (ARPH), a not-for-profit organization comprised of volunteers who are dedicated to the Australian Shepherd breed. ARPH's mission is to rescue Australian Shepherds and place them into loving, caring, and permanent homes, and to educate the public about all aspects of owning an Australian Shepherd. For more information, visit www.aussierescue.org. |
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AWNINGS & PETS
“We are proud of the fact that awnings help protect pets every day,” says Michelle Sahlin, Managing Director of PAMA. “Homeowners use awnings to create shade areas in the yard for their outdoor pets, while blocking harmful UV rays and cooling interior spaces for indoor pets.”
The use of awnings is just one way to help protect these valued family members. “Most of the people who helped with this video project are pet owners themselves,” continued Sahlin. “We took it personally. We wanted to make sure to present a range of ideas people could use to keep pets safe.”
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MORE RESOURCES FOR KEEPING YOUR PET SAFE & HEALTHY:
• “How to keep your pet cool in hot weather,” Pat Gray, helium.com
•“Pets are ‘people’ too,” Bryan Hale, valleycentral.com
• “Pets in Hot Cars,” paw-rescue.org
•“Do Dogs Get Sunburns?” Angela Tague, associatedcontent.com
• “Dogs & Cats Can Get Sunburn,” peteducation.com
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