Animal centre shares top tips for Cambridgeshire pet owners this summer
The guidance comes a year after the UK's record-breaking heatwave
As summer begins to hit the UK, pet owners in Cambridgeshire may be wondering how best to keep their beloved animals safe in the heat.
The country sweltered in a record-breaking heatwave last year, with temperatures soaring to above 40 degrees.
Now, staff at RSPCA Block Fen Animal Centre in Wimblington have been sharing some of their top tips to take care of your pet.
Laura Prince, the centre’s deputy manager, advised pet owners to keep their animals as cool as possible:
“It’s making sure the animals aren’t in direct sunlight or somewhere that isn’t hot because they can easily overheat,” she said.
“We put treats in their kibble, freeze that with water and they’d have that during the day for mental stimulation when normally they’d be out of their kennels, which we wouldn’t do when it’s hot.”
RSPCA Block Fen issued the guidance ahead of its 20th anniversary since they first opened next month, and now they have dozens of animals in their care including dogs, cats, rabbits and guinea pigs.
And it is not just animals that need to keep hydrated in the heat.
“We’ve got loads of drinks so everybody can keep hydrated because if we can’t work, we can’t look after the dogs properly,” said Vanessa Gautrey, animal care assistant at RSPCA Block Fen.
“You know how yourself feels when you’re hot and it’s the same with an animal; they feel hot and will go into the shade or shadows to keep cool.”