Moose Jaw is going to get hit with the heat this week, as temperatures are forecasted to exceed the 30-degree mark.  

With the week-long heat wave, people and their pets will venture outside to enjoy the sunshine. Just like people, pets are affected by the heat, and proper precautions need to be taken.  

Dana Haukaas, Director of the Moose Jaw Humane Society touched on some ways to keep your furry friends safe from the heat. 

“With your cat just keep it indoors, you don’t annoy your neighbours by having your cat go into their flower bed or their garden, and they can stay nice and cool in your basement or in your air-conditioned upstairs,” says Haukaas. 

When it comes to taking your dog out for a stroll, she recommends early morning or late evening walks, when temperatures begin to cool down.  

“A good rule of thumb is if you put your bare foot on the pavement and count to ten, if that’s too hot for your foot, it’s too hot for your dog’s feet.” 

Another tip to keep your dog cool this summer is to have a paddling pool in your backyard or look into buying a cooling jacket or bandanas for your pet that you can wrap around their necks to beat the heat.  

While it may be tempting as well to take the pooch out for a cruise if you're going to run some errands, Haukaas says that is definitely a no-no. 

"We are getting calls of people concerned about dogs being left in cars, and even if you intend to just be a couple of minutes, you never know what the lineup is going to be like or if you're going to run into a friend, so it's just best to leave them at home." 

Another way to keep them cool is to make sure you change the water in their water dish regularly and even add some ice cubes. 

Having your dog well-groomed can also play a role in keeping your dog cool. Double-coated breeds such as Shepherds and Retrievers have undercoats that, if they aren't brushed out, can heat up. 

Signs that you can look for if you think your pet is overheating, is if they begin to pant anxiously like they can't recover from it. It is recommended that if you are worried about your pet getting too much sun and you aren't sure what to do, you call the Humane Society.