Soaring temperatures are not just bad for people, a heat wave can roast pets too. It can also lead to criminal charges for pet owners who leave their animals in the heat.
Jeff Dorson with the Humane Society of Louisiana says there have been nearly a dozen incidents recently.
"We've had eleven reported fatalities of animals left outside in the heat, or in sheds," said Dorson.
Dorson says fur-covered animals benefit from air conditioning as much as we do.
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"Keep them inside if they're companion animals, because that's they're name," he said. "They want to be with you and part of the family, not tied up outside."
If the animal must stay outdoors, Dorson says it needs access to shade and water. Pet owners who neglect their animals could find themselves facing felony charges.
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"Volunteers have been going out, they've been posting on Facebook, knocking on doors, to please move their dog into a nice shaded area," Dorson said. "It could mean the difference between life and death."
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