With summer in full swing, Georgia residents have taken precautions to keep themselves and their families cool and safe. Agriculture Commissioner Tommy Irvin is reminding Peach State residents that their dogs and cats need assistance as well.

Here are a few tips to help your pet beat the heat and deal with summer’s problems:

· Keep fresh water available at all times. Keep it in the shade so it doesn’t get hot.

· Do not leave your pet unattended in a parked car. The temperature can become dangerous within minutes.

· Since dogs and cats cannot cool themselves by sweating, shade helps them cool off. Make sure they have a spot to get out of the sun. Place doghouses in the shade.

· Bring your animal inside to the air-conditioning if it seems too hot. Dogs with short snouts such as pugs, English bulldogs and Pekineses are especially vulnerable to the heat.

· If your animals have breathing problems, keep them inside on low air-quality days.

· Limit exercise during the hottest part of the day. Take walks in the morning or evening.

· Avoid prolonged contact with asphalt or concrete. These surfaces may burn delicate paw pads.

· Fleas, ticks and mosquitoes plague animals during the summer months and can cause serious health problems. Talk to your veterinarian about how to keep these from harming your pet.

· Keep your pet’s vaccinations up-to-date to avoid potential health risks.

· Spay/neuter your pet. This keeps animals closer to home and helps them avoid potential life-threatening situations, decreases their disease susceptibility and improves overall animal health.

By following these simple tips, you can keep your dog or cat healthy and happy this summer and throughout the year.

For more information on the healthy choice of spay/neuter and to find out how to receive a discount on your pet’s spay/neuter procedure through the Dog and Cat Sterilization Program (DCSP), visit the Georgia Department of Agriculture’s website: www.agr.georgia.gov.

You may also contact your veterinarian to confirm program participation or call the Department at 404-656-3667. Unlike other spay/neuter programs, the Department’s Dog and Cat Sterilization Program has no participation income requirements. Any Georgia resident may benefit from the program, which provides subsidies for spay/neuter procedures performed by licensed and accredited veterinarians in all 159 Georgia counties.

Since this program receives no state monies, it depends on public and private donations to perform its vital mission of curbing pet overpopulation in the Peach State. Georgians may support the program now by purchasing a special dog and cat license plate for their vehicles.

These commemorative license plates are available at county tag offices throughout Georgia for a $25 one-time fee. More than $22 from each license plate sold directly benefits the DCSP. These funds are allocated only for spay/neuter procedures and educational outreach on this healthy choice.

Tens of thousands of dog and cat license plates have been sold since 2003, earning more than $2.5 million. Georgians may also contribute to the DCSP in honor or memory of a loved one. Contributions are 100% tax-deductible and provide much-needed funding to promote critical spay/neuter efforts.

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