Don't Leave Your Dog In the Car- It's Too Hot

Some dogs love being in the car, especially with the windows down, but cars can be a dangerous place for them when it’s hot out. Taking your dog for a ride is fine, but you should avoid bringing him with you if you’ll be leaving him alone for any length of time in the car.

Interior Vehicle Temperatures

The temperature inside your car rises rapidly on hot days. This isn’t a problem while you’re driving around with the air conditioning on or the windows down, but it can quickly become a life-threatening issue for your pet when you’re parked. In fact, the American Veterinary Medical Association warns that interior temperatures in parked cars can go up 20 degrees in ten minutes. The longer your car stays parked, the hotter it gets inside. This puts your pet at high risk of becoming dangerously ill, or dead.

Factors to Consider

Some people think it’s safe to leave pets in cars if it’s not too hot outside or if they leave the window cracked open a bit and park in a shady spot. However, this doesn’t stop the interior temperature from becoming too high for your pet. Even if it’s in the 70's and you find a parking spot in the shade, your pet would still be in serious danger of getting sick from overheating. When you know that you’ll be going into stores or other places that your pet isn’t allowed in, even if it’s just for a few minutes, don’t bring him with you for the ride. Your dog is much safer at home where it's cooler.

Doggy Daycare as an Alternative

When you need to get errands done, consider bringing your pup to doggy daycare for a few hours or more. DoGone Fun offers half-day packages that give you time to take care of your to do list while also keeping your dog safe. Doggy daycare also provides your dog with a chance to be social and get plenty of exercise.

If you’re interested in doggy daycare for your pup, please contact DoGone Fun for more information on our packages.

This article was previously published at https://www.dogonefunchicago.com/owning-a-dog/dont-leave-your-dog-in-the-car-its-too-hot/

Your Yard Has Gone To The Dogs

When you have a yard, your dog has a good place to run around and explore. If you plan on letting your dog stay out there for long periods of time when it’s nice out, consider making some changes to it. You can make your yard more dog-friendly with the following ideas.

Shelter and Shade

Your dog will need areas of shade to escape from the sun’s rays when it’s warm out. Having a sheltered area also provides a place for dogs to go if it starts raining. Consider adding a gazebo to your yard, depending on how much space you have. A gazebo is a free-standing structure that your dog can go to for shade or shelter from the rain while he’s playing outside.

If space is limited, you can add an awning or canopy to the exterior of your home. This provides a covered spot for your dog to go for shelter and shade. Keep in mind that there are retractable awnings available if you don’t want an awning open all the time.

Trees and Plants

If you plan on using trees and plants as forms of shelter and shade, be careful about the types you plant. Avoid any plants that are toxic to dogs, especially if your dog spends time outdoors unsupervised. You should also choose trees, bushes and plants that can handle being bumped into while your dog is running around.

Other Options

What happens if you don’t have a yard to make more dog-friendly or if you work all day and can’t let your dog play out there for hours? Doggy Daycare offers a great solution to this problem. You can drop your dog off at doggy daycare for hours of fun and excitement with other dogs. This lets your dog burn off energy during the day when you’re at work while also getting to be social and make new friends.

If you’re thinking of signing your dog up for doggy daycare, contact DoGone Fun. We provide a safe area for dogs to play in with constant supervision.

This article was previously published at https://www.dogonefunchicago.com/dog-daycare/your-yard-has-gone-to-the-dogs/

WOOF Act: Dogone Fun Supports It.

When people decide to get a dog for their home, some choose to buy a puppy rather than adopting one. Although there are reputable breeders around, there are also many puppy mills. These puppy mills are places that focus on producing high numbers of puppies and selling them for a profit. Dogs that are in these mills are kept in cramped, dirty conditions and often have serious health issues. The WOOF Act seeks to crack down on these mills, and DoGone Fun is proud to support this legislation.

The WOOF Act

The WOOF Act, which stands for "Welfare of Our Friends," is a bipartisan bill that was reintroduced recently in February. This bill aims to close loopholes that let puppy mills continue to operate even if they have had several violations of the Animal Welfare Act. These loopholes currently allow puppy mill owners with revoked or suspended licenses to get new licenses by using a different name, such as a family member’s name. The US Department of Agriculture has also been issuing new licenses for problem breeders who have had multiple violations, such as not providing seriously ill animals with veterinary care.

The WOOF Act would help put a stop to these practices and make it harder for puppy mill owners or problem breeders to obtain new licenses or have their license renewed. This act ended up with 167 co-sponsors when it was originally introduced in Congress.

Puppy Mill Problems

Puppy mills are notorious for housing dogs used for breeding, and their puppies, in unsafe, unsanitary and inhumane conditions. Females are expected to breed over and over, resulting in serious health problems. The puppies they have often have health issues as well. In addition to the WOOF Act, encouraging others to adopt dogs instead of buying them can help put a stop to the use of puppy mills.

If you’re looking for a high-quality doggy daycare place for your pets to go, please contact DoGone Fun. We offer caring staff and a safe place for dogs to play while their owners are busy.

This article was previously published at https://www.dogonefunchicago.com/owning-a-dog/woof-act-dogone-fun-supports-it/