Humane World for Animals India releases summer safety guidelines

Humane World for Animals India has issued a heatwave advisory urging citizens to protect animals from extreme temperatures. Experts recommend simple steps to prevent dehydration and heatstroke, highlighting growing risks to pets, stray animals, birds, and urban wildlife.

Hyderabad: As temperatures soar, Humane World for Animals India (formerly Humane Society International/India) has issued an advisory and urged citizens to take simple yet critical steps to protect companion and community animals, birds and urban wildlife from extreme heat, dehydration and life-threatening heatstroke.

Praveen Suresh, manager, Disaster Response, Humane World for Animals India, said: “Extreme heat is increasing stress, disease, and mortality in animals, while disrupting the livelihoods that depend on them.”

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Dr Piyush Patel, veterinarian and director of the street animal programme at Humane World for Animals India, shared tips to help animals:

* Keep bowls or earthen (mud) pots filled with clean, cool water outside homes or in areas where community animals gather.

* In summers, street animals often seek refuge under the vehicle. Always check before starting the vehicle.

* Keep companion animals indoors: Dogs can only sweat through their footpads and rely mainly on panting to cool down

* Never leave your companion animals in a parked car: Even on a mild 22°C day, the temperature inside a parked car can climb to 47°C within an hour.

* Help fallen birds: Check them for signs of dehydration, such as sunken or dull eyes, lethargy, solid droppings, wrinkly skin, and rapid breathing. Spray some water on the bird. Do not dip them underwater, as it will put them under more stress.

* Fruits, such as cucumber slices, can help hydrate animals and provide a cooling treat during hot weather. Frozen fruit cubes could be given to pets.

* Help animals suffering from heatstroke: Move them into the shade or an air-conditioned area. Apply ice packs or cold towels to their head, neck and chest or run cool (not cold) water over them.