“Keep us cool, tick-free, and safe out there, humans!”

THUNDER BAY – COMMUNITY LIFE (PAWS EDITION) – Hi there, I’m Behzhig, the intrepid German Shepherd from Thunder Bay. I’ve been sniffing around and noticed a lot of my furry friends and their humans enjoying the warm weather lately — which is great!

But I also see some dogs out walking in the blazing sun with no water in sight.

Yikes! So I figured I’d bark out a few tips to help you humans take better care of us this summer. Trust me — a cool dog is a happy dog.

☀️ Too Hot? Leave Us at Home!

We dogs don’t sweat like you do — we pant to cool down, and when it’s humid or hot, it’s harder for us. And cats? They may act like royalty, but they get hot too!

Please remember:

• Don’t leave us in hot cars. Even with a window cracked, it’s an oven in there.

• Walk us early in the morning or after dinner. Paws burn on hot pavement!

• Shade and water are musts if we’re outside. Better yet? Let’s chill indoors.

• Cooling mats, a shady spot under a tree, or even a doggie pool? Yes, please!

If we start drooling like crazy, stumbling, or lying down when we shouldn’t — we might be in heatstroke danger. Call a vet fast!

🐜 Ticks Are Gross. Fleas Are Worse.

I love rolling in grass and sniffing around the woods, but that’s where ticks like to hide. Those little suckers can make me really sick with something called Lyme disease.

Here’s how you can help:

• Check us after hikes — especially ears, paws, and under the collar.

• Use vet-approved tick and flea prevention meds — please!

• Keep the backyard grass short and tidy.

Bonus tip: mosquitoes are out too, and they can carry heartworm. Your vet can give you the good stuff to keep us safe.

🐶 Thirsty Much? Yes, Always.

Just like you grab a bottle of water on a hot day, we need water everywhere we go. And if we don’t drink enough, we can get dehydrated fast.

What helps:

• Keep lots of water bowls around — inside and outside.

• Bring a collapsible bowl when we go out.

• Toss in some ice cubes or make me some frozen treats. I like broth pupsicles, just saying.

And hey — please don’t feed us spicy BBQ leftovers or cooked bones. That stuff messes with our bellies. Nobody wants a midnight vet trip, trust me.

Fireworks Are Not Fun for Us

You might think fireworks are fun, but to me? It sounds like the sky is falling. I’d rather hide under the bed.

If there’s going to be loud noises:

• Keep me indoors with a quiet space.

• Some dogs need calming vests or vet-approved meds — that’s okay!

• I’ll love you more if you skip the fireworks and give belly rubs instead.

And if you’re going away, secure us properly in the car. No loose rides in the back of trucks. I like wind in my face, but I like safety better.

Let’s Make This a Safe Summer Together

Summer is pawsome — if you plan ahead. Whether we’re chasing sticks at camp, lounging under a tree, or playing fetch in the backyard, we just need a little help from our humans to stay safe and healthy.

Thanks for looking out for us — now let’s go chase some squirrels (safely, of course).

Tail wags,
Behzhig 
Your Thunder Bay Intrepid German Shepherd!