Pet owners are being urged to keep their dogs, cats and other animal friends safe and sheltered during summer.
Wyndham environment and sustainability portfolio holder Heather Marcus said it was important to consider the wellbeing of pets during the warmer weather.
“Summer is a great time of year that many of us look forward to, but it can also be a dangerous time for our beloved pets,” Cr Marcus said.
“It’s important that we all remember to leave lots of bowls of fresh water out for our pets, and make sure they can find a shady place to get away from the heat on hot days.”
Cr Marcus, a cat owner, said it was cruel to leave animals in hot cars, even for a little while.
“Even if you are just ducking out to a shop quickly, your pets can quickly suffer from exhaustion and dehydration, so make sure you don’t leave them behind,” she said.
Cr Marcus stressed the importance of leaving out extra buckets or bowls of water for animals on hot days, in case they accidentally spilt or knocked over their usual water sources.
She said pets needed access to shady places and that rabbits, guinea pigs and birds should be kept inside on hot days, with their cages well away from windows and sunny spots.
Go to wyndham.vic.gov.au/services/pets-animals/caring-your-pets/pets-heat for more information.
