We should be getting some hot weather soon and I need to remind you of some important pet care.

Please do not take your dog in the car if you are going to stop for even ten minutes if the temperature is over 75 degrees. I have tested how quickly a car heats up even at that temperature in a parking lot. It is less than ten minutes. You see, a dog sweats through his ear canals and pads of his feet. His panting helps cool him, but he does not have all the sweat glands we have. If he is in a hot car, he heats up faster than we would, plus the fur coat. If he gets too hot, he can suffer brain damage or die quickly. Once I confronted a lady who left a little white poodle in a car in the heat. She said, "But he has a bowl of water." First of all, he knocked it over and second, he needed cool air. The water would not have helped.

Please always provide plenty of water for your pets wherever they are. I have three buckets at different spots in the house and outside. The cats also can go to a nearby spring, because I let them go in and out.

Oh, bugs. You can get pet-friendly bug spray and you should put it on the rear end area at least. If you have an old pet or rabbits, be extra vigilant. Maggots are sneaky little devils and can be deadly before you know it. Ask your vet what to put on a rabbit's hiney to keep flies off.

Heartworm pills for dogs are so important, as well as flea treatment on both dogs and cats. You need a heartworm test by the veterinarian before you give new pills if you do not give all year round. Do not put dog meds on cats.

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It doesn't matter whether you have a religion or not. There are passages from all religions I think that cover compassion. This is my personal favorite when I think of all of you good people who have taken pity on a lost or needy animal. It is from Matthew in the New Testament. It is just part of the entire section.

"'Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 35. for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36. I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' 37. Then the righteous will answer him, `Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink? 38. And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee, or naked and clothe thee? 39. And when did we see thee sick or in prison and visit thee?' 40. And the King will answer them, `Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.' "

The reason it came to mind now is that some really fine people together took in a stray dog. One gave him food, another gave him water and a playmate, and another took him to the vet and gave him a place to sleep. And all of them gave him a kind word and a gentle hand. It just touched my heart in the wake of all the animal cruelty I came upon in the past month.

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We need to stop dog-fighting if we can. The following will help. The information is from the Humane Society of the U.S.

They tell us the law to cover dog-fighting in New York is very weak. It is in the lowest five of all the states. Shame. The legislation that would change it from a misdemeanor to a felony is A.B. 6287a. It passed the Agriculture Committee, but needs to go through a Codes Committee.

"Please take a moment today to call Speaker Sheldon Silver at 518-455-3791 and urge him to pass A.B. 6287a to strengthen the animal fighting law in New York. Making a call is easy. When you call, you will speak to a staff member who will pass your message along to your legislator. Remember to leave your name and address so it is clear that you are a New York resident. You can say: "Hello, my name is [your name] and I am calling from [your town] to ask Speaker Silver to support A.B. 6287a, and strengthen New York's animal fighting law. Thank you."

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There is an event called "Bark in the Park" on June 20 at Verkerdekill Park on Route 52, between Walker Valley and Pine Bush. It sounds like it might be fun. You can look it up by putting that title in your web-search. Check the temperature that day before taking your dog.

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