It is summertime in the United States, and the stories of animals being left in hot cars are all over the news and social media. Just last week our local police department had to rescue a dachshund left in a car while the owners just "ran into the store for a minute". Luckily the dog was pulled from the car and not harmed. The owner left the windows cracked and believed that was enough to keep the temperature inside the car tolerable.

You should never leave your dog alone in the car in warm weather. In many places, it is illegal to leave a pet alone in the car. Some states even allow police officers and the general public to break into cars to rescue a pet.

Cracking a window does very little to prevent soaring temperatures inside a car. Even on a beautiful 75 degree day, temperatures inside a car can reach 100 degrees in 20 minutes. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, several studies have shown how quickly the temperature can rise in a parked car, regardless of car color or if the windows are cracked open.

Lots of dogs love to play in water. I share my home with a Labrador and a Malinois that are crazy for any opportunity to get wet, whether it is the ocean, pool, lake, or stream. Just don't show them a shampoo bottle, they will go hide 😁. My dogs will play in water all day long, but I know that I need to supervise them very closely when around water. Listed here are some precautions to take and things to watch out for to keep your dog safe in water.