It’s summer and the weather is finally taking a turn for the better. Who wouldn’t want to get outside and take advantage of the sun while you can?
If one of the ways you enjoy the great outdoors is by hiking you may want to reconsider taking your four-legged friend with you.
The Malibu Search and Rescue team issued a warning to pet owners after they had to conduct several rescues for dogs that were suffering from heat stroke.
Recently, the entire state of California has been dealing with a heat wave. Temperatures have ranged from the 90s to the triple digits, which have made many outdoor activity nearly impossible.
But in the land of of the rich and famous, life must go on. This includes taking hikes in the Hollywood Hills no matter what the temperature.
Titus was walking with his owner in the remote hills above Westlake Village when the five-year-old Husky’s owner called for help. Titus injured himself and needed rescuing.
The poor pooch tore up his paws while hiking in the high heat.
When the Malibu Search and Rescue team reached the Husky and his owner, after an hour-long hike, they found Titus was well-hydrated and his injuries weren’t due to the temperatures.
But after having to rescue two other dogs in a similar situation they sent out a warning to pet owners.
“You don’t want to play catch up with heat,” Neal Thornhill, a Malibu Search and Rescue technician said, according to NBC Los Angeles. “If it is uncomfortable for you, it is exceptionally uncomfortable for your dog.”
Some breeds, like Labradors, won’t exhibit symptoms of heat stroke until it’s too late.
Several days after the team successfully rescued Titus, the team was called out to help a black Labrador in distress. The owner reportedly contacted Malibu Search and Rescue reporting the dog’s shallow breathing.
Unfortunately, the dog passed away before the crew could reach the dog and its owner.
On the day the black Labrador succumbed to a heat-related illness, the temperature was higher than when Titus was rescued, and the dog was older, overweight, and lacked proper hydration, according to Thornhill.
Titus was treated and strapped into a litter rescue basket used for human victims and then carried out the hour long trek back to the trailhead. #DogsofTwittter#dogrescue #RESCUE#rescuedog #mansbestfriend pic.twitter.com/RKu97bXc8F
— Malibu Search Rescue (@MalibuSAR) June 7, 2019
Another dog that was a similar age and condition of the black Labrador was also rescued and treated for a heat-related illness.
“The owners think they are taking the dog on a hike; they think they are doing something good,” Thornhill said.
And it can be something good for both you and your dog, as long as you take a hike during the early morning hours or in the evening when it’s not as hot. Pet owners should also make sure to bring enough water to keep their dog hydrated.
With warmer temperatures already here in many parts of the country, this should serve as a very important reminder to pet owners.
We need to be careful and watch out for our furry friends.
Share this post to warn your family and friends about the dangers of hiking with your pets during the day.
