Don't leave your pet in your car!

On a typical Key West day, the temperature in a parked car even with the windows partially down can reach 120 degrees in just a few minutes. Your pet can quickly die from heatstroke or suffocation. Never leave your pet in your parked car.

Signs of heat stress include heavy panting, glazed eyes, a rapid pulse, unsteadiness, a staggering gait, vomiting, or a deep read or purple tongue. If your pet is suffering from heat stress, you must lower it's body temperature immediately. Move your pet into the shade and apply cool (not cold) water all over it's body to gradually lower it's temperature. Give your pet small amounts of cool water or ice cubes to lick. Take your pet to the veterinarian immediately.

If you see an animal in a car exhibiting any signs of heat stress, call your local animal care and control agency or police department immediately!

Spay or Neuter Your Pet

Consider the fact that in six short years, one female dog and her offspring can give birth to 67,000 puppies. In seven years, one cat and her young can produce 420,000 kittens.

Do your part to help by having your pets spayed or neutered. This is the single most important step you can take. Have your pet sterilized so that he or she does not contribute to the pet overpopulation problem.

Key West's animal shelter offers free spay and neuter clinics often. Take advantage of that and do your part to help with the overpopulation problem.