As temperatures soar, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India is offering life-saving tips on caring for animals.

Keep dog companions inside: unlike humans, dogs can sweat only through their footpads, and they cool themselves by panting.

Soaring temperatures can cause heat stress and physical injuries – including brain damage – and can result in death.

Avoid leaving animals in parked cars: never leave a dog inside a parked car in warm weather, even for short periods and even if the windows are slightly open. On a mild 21-degree day, the temperature inside a car can climb rapidly, reaching a dangerous 37 degrees in 20 minutes. On a 32-degree day, interior car temperatures can reach 42 degrees. Dogs trapped inside a car can succumb to heatstroke within minutes – even if the car isn’t parked in direct sunlight.

Offer water to community animals: place mud pots filled with cool, clean water outside your home or in places where there are community or working animals. Inexpensive mud pots will help keep the water cool and won’t tip over.

Provide birds with water: place bowls on windowsills, balconies, and terraces and in gardens. Change the water regularly.

Request that animals used for work are given breaks: ask animal-cart drivers using bullocks, donkeys, or other animals to give the animals rest, especially during the afternoon heat, and help them cool off by gently spraying water on them.

Provide treats: offer animals used for work fruit for a sweet treat.

Stay alert and save a life: keep an eye on all animals you see outdoors. If you find an animal in distress, contact a veterinarian or animal welfare organisation right away and give the animal water for immediate relief. Contact PETA India’s Emergency Response Team on 9820122602 if necessary. Do not leave the animal’s side before help arrives.

“Amid rising temperatures, it’s crucial to help animals avoid heatstroke and dehydration,” says PETA India Manager of Veterinary Services Dr Rashmi Gokhale. “But by taking simple compassionate actions, we can help our animal friends beat the heat.”