I am having a tough time dealing with the extreme heat we have been experiencing recently, and I rarely need to do more than walk from an air conditioned building to an air conditioned vehicle.

When I see people out running in this heat, I admire their courage but I seriously doubt their good sense.

As for our animals, we are responsible for being their voices of reason, because if your dog is anything like Dexter, he wants to be wherever I am. He gives me the saddest look when I leave him behind, but he cannot be left in the car while I run errands, even with the windows rolled down.

He will also over-exercise if he thinks that would make me happy, so I’m the one who controls when and how often he chases the ball.

In addition to being the “bad guy” for rides and fetching, here are some other things you can do to keep your dog comfortable this summer:

• Whether or not he is a full-time “house dog,” give him access to air conditioning during hot days. A laundry room accessed by a doggy door can be convenient for you and life-saving for him;

• If you can’t or won’t let your dog inside, give him a large, fenced-in area with shade and grass. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, when the air temperature is 87 degrees, asphalt temperatures may reach 143 degrees, which is easily hot enough to burn the pads of a dog’s feet;

• Give your outside dog a kiddie pool with a few inches of cool, clean water. Not only will it help cool him off, but it will encourage him to stay hydrated;

• Take your dog for walks during the coolest times of the day and encourage him to walk on the grass rather than the sidewalk. Test the sidewalk by placing the back of your hand on it for ten seconds. If it is uncomfortable for you, it may prove painful for your dog, too;

• Keep your dog’s flea and tick treatment current, give him clean bedding and brush him regularly to prevent mats. Anything you can do to keep him from scratching will help keep him more comfortable; and

• Make sure all your animals have access to an adequate supply of clean food and water.

If we accept an animal into our lives, we must accept the responsibility for keeping that animal safe, happy and healthy. It is the right thing to do.

— Pets and the People Who Love Them is brought to you by your friends at the Athens-Limestone Animal Shelter. To adopt your best friend (cat or dog), please visit 1701 U.S. 72 (behind Limestone Veterinary Clinic), visit our Facebook page or call us at 256-771-7889.

Email your questions to me at PetsAndPeople@charter.net. I’ll check with the experts (veterinarians, animal behaviorists, etc.) and get back to you in a future column.