(upbeat music) - Best Friends Animal Sanctuary is dedicated to keeping animals and pets safe during the summer month festivities.

And here with expert tips for pet owners, it's Pat Theobald.

Hi, Pat.

Thanks so much- - Hi, Mary.

- For being here because as we know, we just had fireworks and we're gonna have them again.

And tell us- - Exactly.

- What to do with our dogs and cats.

- Yeah, it's just always a good idea to think ahead and make sure that you're planning for your pet's comfort during the summer festivities.

So, if you're going to a place, even if it's a parade or fireworks or something like that, probably best to leave the dogs and cats at home in a nice, quiet space.

We like to give dogs a maybe a darkened room, all the shades drawn, play some music, or leave the TV on to give them some background noise to try to kinda limit how upset they get at the sounds of the fireworks outside.

- Oh, yeah, I've taken care of my dog.

During fireworks, that poor thing went absolutely crazy.

- (laughs) Yeah.

Yeah, they don't understand what's going on.

- Yeah.

And Thunder jackets, do they help?

- Yeah, they make ThunderShirts that are basically, it's like a hug for your dog.

And with some dogs, that helps.

There are also some calming supplements that you can try to use as well.

- Great, great.

And then we've got the heat.

- Absolutely.

When it starts to get warm up there, you have to remember, you know, the heat effects your dogs as much or even more than it affects us.

So, as you're taking 'em for walks, you're making sure the pavement isn't too hot.

If you can't hold your hand on the asphalt, then it's too hot for your dog's feet as well.

So, try to walk on the sidewalks or the grass.

And also, we always have to remind people, make sure if you're taking your dogs out on errands with you, you do not ever leave them in a car when it's hot out.

It can get really hot in there very, very fast.

- So fast, so fast.

- Yeah.

- Anyway, I'm so glad you're here to give us great tips.

And thanks.

- Yeah.

- Thank you for coming.

- Yeah, appreciate it.

- Thank you.

And if you'd like to know more about great tips for your animals this summer and during fireworks, Best Friends Animal Society, keeping animals safe this summer, go to bestfriendsutah.org.

That's bestfriendsutah.org.

I'm Mary Dickson.

Thanks for watching "Contact."

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