11:01am | We’d been thinking that summer had taken a summer vacation, but it’s just stepped back into town. Hot summer weather makes it incumbent upon us pet people to take precautions so that our buddies don’t become catatonic or fall into a dog daze. The following are top tips gleaned from our own experiences and various animal-welfare websites. This isn’t an exhaustive list — check the end of the article for links to more suggestions:

• This hint is the avatar of pet-safety nuh-uhs. Every year when summer arrives, we hear of pets — and small children — confined inside a car in the heat with the windows shut, causing them to perished. California Penal Code Section 597.7 states that “it is illegal to leave or confine an animal in any unattended motor vehicle under conditions that endanger the health or well-being of an animal due to heat.” The temperature inside a car can reach 160 degrees, and parking in the shade gives little protection because the sun shifts. Dogs and cats have no sweat glands and can’t manufacture perspiration to cool themselves off, and the normal temperatures of cats and dogs are higher than those of humans. A couple of summers ago, a friend of ours spotted a dog left closed up in the car in the post office lot. An outspoken sort, our friend marched into the building and announced that there was a dog left in a car and the owner needed to attend to it. Someone near the end of the line — a long line — answered something to the effect of “Oh, he’ll be fine, I’ll be right out.” Our friend nodded, went outside, and called the police, who responded pretty quickly. The dog’s caretaker was none too pleased, as few people like that are, but meddle anyway: If you see a pet who has been left unattended in a closed-up, parked vehicle, call Animal Care Services at 562-570-7387 or the police (do a 9-1-1 here!). Be sure to give the license plate number. 
   
• OK, you can leave your pet in the car with the windows open so he or she can breathe, right? Frankly, that’s not advisable. Partially opened windows do not provide sufficient air, particularly on a hot day. Even on a nice chilly morning, an opened car window is an opportunity for pet theft.

• As far as the sun goes, too much of it is as dangerous for pets as it is for people. When you take your dog out to Rosie’s Dog Beach or out on a long walk, apply sunscreen on the nose — particularly a light-colored nose — and ear tips to prevent cancer and sunburn. Cats, especially white ones, are also prone to sunburn. Check with your vet for a good product (don’t expect the cat to let it sit on the nose, by the way.) Rabbits who live in outdoor warrens (And why? They make terrific indoor pets as long as you bunny-proof the house) need to have plentiful water and a shaded shelter. Rabbits can also suffer from heat exhaustion or heatstroke — imagine yourself in all that bunny fur. Birds should not be in direct sunlight, especially in front of windows, which reflect and refract and do whatever else glass does to sunlight.

 Fuji wears a visor to deal with her skin-cancer and other health issues. Friends have told her that she resembles Dinah Shore when she’s hatted up — a compliment to both dog and grande dame. Photo courtesy Merrilee Adler.

• Speaking of Rosie’s, exercise your pet in the early morning or evening hours, when it’s cooler.

• And speaking further of fur coats, shorter pet cuts are good for the summer, but don’t take a skinhead approach to the body. Pets need a light coat of fur for sun protection.

• Heat can cause problems other than dehydration. Extreme sidewalk heat can burn little paddy paws, so don’t allow your dog to stand around on it while you’re chatting or texting. If you walk your dog on the hot sidewalks, invest in those cute little booties. He or she may be embarrassed in front of his or her friends but will thank you later.

• Turn the air conditioner on for your pet — especially your senior pets and those with the snub-nose breathing issues — on hot days, especially if you’re wisely safety-minded and leave your doors and windows shut. This may sound like excessive indulgence, but so what?

• It naturally follows to say that your pet should have plenty of drinking water. Double-down on the quantity — it’s better use for it than watering a lawn.

• If your pet should become overheated, cool him or her down with small amounts of water or cool washcloths. Immersing your pet in cold water could cause shock to the system. Take him or her to a vet as an added precaution.

• Summer means vacation trips, and dogs and some odd cats enjoy taking trips with the family. If you decide to travel with your pet, do the following for each destination: Know the terrain and changes of altitude; find the closest vet (get a recommendation, if possible); note any animal predators, toxic plants and conditions like Lyme disease; get your pet inoculations and carsickness meds; make sure microchips and name tags are in place; and take all the precautions we’ve mentioned previously. On the fun side, look up pet-friendly hotels, motels and campgrounds; dog parks and beaches; airplane accommodations if applicable; and restaurants that welcome pets in their outdoor dining areas. If your pet stays home, be sure that you have a trustworthy pet sitter or boarding kennel. Click here and here for all this information.

• And, of course, there’s the Fourth of July coming up this weekend. Holiday activities can be stressful enough for pets without firecrackers freaking them out at random intervals. One friend we knew had a German shepherd who burst through a closed window at the first sound of a bottle rocket and took off in search of her humans. When she was finally corralled, our friend shut her up in the wine cellar and put cotton in her ears. Thankfully, it worked, or the dog surely would have gotten into the pinot. If you don’t have a wine cellar, have someone check in on him or her if possible, make the area as quiet as possible and safe for your pet so that he or she doesn’t destroy anything (like windows), and contact your vet for medication to alleviate the fear. Boarding the pet is a good choice, as well. Whatever you do, don’t take the pet with you to a fireworks display — it will most likely be nerve-wracking and it could also be dangerous.

Summertime is supposed to be a fun time, just as the Beach Boys have us to think, and we hope that you and your pet have your share of it. Let us know of any tips or websites that you’ve found useful, either for travel or for home.

We thank Animal Care Services, In Defense of Animals, the ASPCA, HSUS, spcaLA, and the AKC for these suggestions.