Heloise

Dear Readers: Every summer we tackle the difficult subject of kids and pets and hot cars. Here we go again.

The temperature inside a parked car, when the temperature is 70 degrees outside, can climb to 100 degrees in only 20 minutes. If it’s a very hot day? The car’s interior temperature can go up to 140. And heat plus humidity is even worse.

A dog or person confined in a car under these conditions can incur heatstroke; heatstroke can kill. Dogs cannot release heat efficiently from their bodies. Yes, they pant and sweat a bit through their feet, but it’s not enough to cool down the body. And people can’t cool themselves effectively either.

Best bet? Leave pets and people safely home when the weather is hot. Please don’t crack a window or park in the shade. That’s not going to cool the car sufficiently. – Heloise

P.S. Before walking the dog on asphalt, touch the asphalt with your bare hand. If you can’t hold your hand there comfortably for 10 seconds, it’s too hot for your dog to walk on. Walk in the grass.

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PET PAL

Dear Heloise: Thank you for all the helpful hints; it’s great to read what other people do to solve problems. This is our Sadie Mae (named after Sadie Hawkins Day), a 7-year-old Bichon Frise who we love dearly. – Susan T., via email

Readers, would you like to see Sadie Mae and our other Pet Pals? Visit www.Heloise.com and click on “Pet of the Week.” Do you have a funny and furry friend to share? Email a picture and description to Heloise@Heloise.com. – Heloise

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FILL ‘ER UP

Dear Heloise: During the past year of the pandemic, we have accumulated many plastic takeout containers. Now that dining out is an option again, we carry these containers in our car and use them for our leftovers.

This way we reuse the containers, reduce the containers that restaurants use, and recycle them when they are no longer good to use. It is also more convenient than waiting for staff to bring us containers or for them to fill them. – Liz in Virginia