Tag Archives: Animal Welfare League of Queen Anne’s County

Animal Welfare is Hot in Queen Anne’s County

imgresAnimal Welfare is Hot in Queen Anne’s County

Your Animal Welfare League of Queen Anne’s County is working hard to serve the community and its animal-welfare needs.  As summer approaches our coastal community, residents need to take special care to protect pets from the heat.  AWL offers the following pet-safe heat tips for this summer:

  • Never leave pets in a parked car, even with windows down.  On an 85-degree day, the temperature inside can reach 102-degrees in 10 minutes. Your pet can die in that situation, or suffer severe organ damage.
  • Exercise in the mornings or evenings, avoiding severe heat and hot sun overhead.  Hot asphalt can burn your pet’s paws.  Always carry water for both you and for your pet; many pet supply stores sell water bottles with a dog bowl attached.
  • Always provide tree shade or tarp shade when your pet is outside; they can suffer sunburn also. A doghouse does not protect from heat, in fact, it makes it worse since it holds heat inside and temperatures raise.  Tree shade allows for ample air flow.
  • Animals can suffer heat stroke just like their humans can.  Dogs with short snouts such as Pugs and Shih Tzus are especially subject to stroke in heat since they don’t breathe as easily, and hot air can be heavy.  Cool dogs with a cool wrap, ice water and consult a veterinarian when you suspect heat stroke.

Since September 2013, your Animal Welfare League has been here to serve you.  We are the open-admission facility in Queen Anne’s County, and we take in lost or unwanted pets, and provide adoptions services to those looking for an animal.  We also provide low-cost spay and neuter services, animal training (K9 Kamp, and resident behavior modification programs), county dog licenses, microchip services and feral cat traps for neuter/release.  When stray animals are found and reported in Queen Anne’s County, Animal Control officers bring those animals to this facility.

“Running this shelter takes a village,” said Amanda Hodge, Executive Director and Trainer, “we hope for community members to do their part in taking care of our county’s animals.  We need volunteers, donations, committee members and adopters in order to operate.”  Hodge has been the Director for 3 months, and says she sees great potential and lots of great things happening at the Shelter.  The public is invited to Cat-a-palooza on May 17 at the Shelter, where you’ll find shot clinics, face painting, a dog wash, adoptions and snacks.

The shelter is now being operated as a public-private partnership with the Sheriff’s office, who continues to operate the Animal Control (investigations, pick up) side.  AWL board members are delighted to have the opportunity to work side-by-side with the County to assist in providing “best practices” care for our animals. For more information on AWL, go to: www.awlqac.org or call at 410-758-3493.