As dangerous heat settles over the region this week, the Erie Humane Society is urging pet owners to take extra precautions to protect their animals from extreme temperatures.
Humane Society officers say calls about dogs left outside are already increasing as highs climb into the 90s. With heat index values expected to top 100 degrees, they’re reminding residents that even short periods outdoors can put pets at risk.
Experts recommend keeping animals indoors whenever possible, ensuring they have access to fresh drinking water, and avoiding walks during the hottest parts of the day. Under Pennsylvania’s Libre’s Law, unattended dogs cannot be tethered outside for more than 30 minutes when temperatures exceed 90 degrees, and they must have access to shade and potable water.
“If you’re going to take your dog for a walk, early in the morning is the best thing to do before that pavement gets hot,” said Humane Society Police Officer Brian Carroll. “If you stick your hand on the pavement and it burns your hand, it’s gonna burn your animal’s paws.”
Carroll says the upcoming stretch of hot weather could bring even more complaints. He warns that doghouses, often assumed to provide shade, can quickly become dangerously hot when exposed to direct sunlight.
“You might think a doghouse is shade, but the inside of a doghouse, if it’s in direct sunlight, will heat up very rapidly and become uncomfortable,” Carroll said. “It can also be deadly.”
Many pet owners are already adjusting their routines. Arthur Till, who walks his dog Roxie, says he’s sticking to shaded areas and heading out earlier in the day. “We try to walk only in the shade as much as possible, and we come fairly early,” he said.
Others are shortening walks altogether once humidity rises. “Today we’re only doing 20 minutes because it is way too humid for him,” said Kaitlyn, another dog owner. “If I’m dying, he’s probably worse, so when I think it’s too hot, we hydrate and head back.”
Humane Society officers also remind pet owners never to leave animals unattended in parked vehicles, where temperatures can become life‑threatening within minutes — even on a mild day.