If you're a pet owner, you understand the feeling of being willing to do anything to protect your precious fur-baby. Whether that's setting them up with their own kiddie pool, sharing your popsicle with them, or making room for them to climb directly into the fridge, pet owners need to make sure they're taking care of their overheated pets in these record-breaking high temperatures.
Remember folks, if you can't handle the heat, neither can an animal covered in fur! Get them a fan (or three).
Belle Of The Ball
"When there is a heatwave, our 14-year-old dog, Queen Belle, gets every fan in the house, as she should."
Queen Belle deserves everything she has ever dreamed of and it's your responsibility as her owner to give her whatever she wants. Whether that be three fans or an unlimited supply of milk bones or ice cubes to chomp on to keep her cool, Queen Belle gets what Queen Belle wants!
Bodega Cats Gave Up
In the midst of the world-wide July heatwave, one Twitter user tweeted out a warning to all those fellow New York City residents saying, "Even bodega cats are wiped out today. Be careful in this heat, NY'ers."
You know the heat is bad if your local bodega owner's cat is passed out on top of the Doritos, Hot Cheetos, and Orange Crush. Poor kitty couldn't even make it over to the drinks cooler.
The Tongue Scale
"According to the tongue scale, it's this hot in the #garden. #canicule #HEATWAVE2019" wrote Molly when she shared this photo of her overheated canine on Twitter.
Suns out tongues out, right? The more tongue you can see, the hotter it is outside, that's the rule. At least this dog managed to find themselves a shadier spot so they can enjoy a little bit of heat without completely melting like the wicked witch of the west.
Queen Of The Subway
One Twitter user shared photos they snapped of a pampered pup on the subway, writing, "saw the cutest thing on the train... in the midst of a heatwave in the subway this guy really brang a little fan for his dog"
Ignore the concerning spelling in this tweet and just focus on how cute this dog with his own personal fan is. Many fellow pet owners shared videos and photos of their own pups with fans in response. Nice to know they're getting the treatment they deserve!
Make Room
This is a mood if we've ever seen one. Simply standing in front of the refrigerator wasn't enough for this puppy. He decided the best method would be to climb inside, and we agree with his decision.
It looks like his owners even did a bit of rearranging in the fridge to make room for this overheated puppy, which is what every good dog owner should do. All your food might go bad but it's worth it to see his happy face.
Going For A Swim
Sometimes the most effective way to cool yourself off is to just dunk your entire body into the seas of Greece, or whichever body of water is closest to you. Sea, lake, algae-filled pond, bathtub or puddle, all that matters is cooling off.
This is exactly what Orfeas the golden doodle decided to do! We promise there's a dog hidden under all those wet curls, he's just blocking his eyes from the sun for a little bit. It's making finding the ball a little difficult though...
Helpful Advice
Twitter user @jbillinson shared this photo of their dog, writing, "made it five feet out the door before someone decided they didn't want to be outside in this heat."
The user also wanted to take the opportunity to share some advice for dog owners who are trying to keep their pups safe during the record-breaking temperatures. "Take your dogs out on the grass when they have to go out today! If the asphalt is too hot to touch with the back of your hand for more than a few seconds, it's too hot to walk your dog on it!"
Hit The Deck
We've all been there before right? "This dog is how we all feel," wrote one Twitter user who shared this photo of a New York City dog waiting for the subway. Imagine how hot it must've been if it's hot enough underground for this poor puppy to need to lie down flat.
In fact, you don't even need to imagine how hot it was, it was over 100 degrees in NYC. It was so hot events were canceled because no one wanted to be outside.
Snack Break
This is Ernie. Ernie runs his own travel blog and considers himself head of 'Barketing' for his blog, ernies-adventures. Ernie is a successful business-pup but even he needed a little assistance with cooling down during this heatwave.
Ernie's owner tweeted out this photo of Ernie enjoying a popsicle, writing "Cooling down by being a good boy and helping Dad with his ice lolly." Sometimes you need to set your business aside and enjoy some frozen fruit juice!
Larry's Just Lounging Around
Larry the Basset is another Twitter-famous animal whose dealing with the heat by doing absolutely nothing and actually really isn't dealing at all.
Larry the hound is from South Dakota, a state where it was so hot in July that a road actually buckled due to the high temperatures, so don't judge Larry for melting into the ground and spending his days hiding inside. You'd stay inside too if it was 104F (and your probably did.)
Soak Up The Sun
Dogs and cats aren't the only animals that can get overheated, polar bears can too! The Yorkshire Wildlife Park in Branton, England, tweeted out this photo back in July with the caption "Is there a word for 'feeling jealous of a Polar Bear'? #heatwave"
Sometimes all you can do is sit back, let your feet float and soak up some sun. Where's an iceberg or a snowstorm when you need one, right?
Taking A Dip
Beagle brothers Stan & Ollie will melt your heart so much you'll think you're standing outside in the heatwave still. The two dogs' owner shared this photo of their "fun in the sun" to their Twitter account and we've never seen anything cuter, and neither had Twitter.
Every puppy needs its own pool to keep them cool on 100+ degree days, or at least one to share with their fur covered brother!
Ice Ice Baby
A number of pet parents online recommended freezing some of your pet's treats for later when they need a tasty treat. "Enjoying a frozen lick-e-lix with the curtains closed to keep the room cool."
The problem with this is you have to actually remember to freeze their treats ahead of time, but if you're in a hurry you can also just use ice! Every dog loves chomping down on a piece of frozen water.
Melting Cat
It's so hot that animals are out here not just melting into furniture, but becoming one with the furniture.
In this case, Mac The Ginger Cat is suffering through this heatwave by assuming a permanent position on top of this couch. How long do you think Mac has been lying there? Hours? Days? Weeks? Mac has merged with the couch and it doesn't look like he'll be moving anytime soon.
Boiling Blue Jay
During the record-breaking temperatures in July 2019, this photo was taken by Chris Gloninger from NBC10 Boston who tweeted it out along with the caption, "Injured? No. Sick? No. I love blue jays, but they are soooooo dramatic when it's above 80 degrees."
The average temperatures reached 105 degrees Fahrenheit in Boston that week, so can we really call this bird 'dramatic'? We probably wouldn't want to be flying around in that heat either.
Stoop-Sitter
"Area lunatic insists on stoop-sitting during heat wave" wrote this dog's mom when she shared her picture on Twitter.
We're not sure what makes her the area lunatic (we're too afraid to ask) but this stoop sitter has certainly figured out the best way to survive in this heat: don't walk. Someone tries to make you do anything during the heat, even just going for a walk, say no. It's too hot to function.
Opposites Attract
Dogs and cats aren't the only ones who are taking precautions against the heatwave! Bleakholt animal sanctuary farm and small animal section in North West, England, tweeted out photos of two of their animals, Harold and Gary, who are taking different approaches.
Harold the pig decided the best way to cool down would be to find some shade and some mud to bury himself in, whereas Gary the goat felt like basking in the sun would be the best solution. What do you think?
Flat Lay Squirrel
You've heard of flying squirrels, what about flay-lay squirrels? North Americans weren't the only ones suffering through 90+ degree temperatures. It was just as hot across the pond during the heatwave.
Just a friendly reminder, in case you've forgotten, squirrels don't typically lie like this. "Even the squirrels are finding it difficult in this heat" wrote the user who shared this photo on Twitter, which clearly shows how hot it got in the U.K. during the heatwave.
Floatin' Away
Upon first glance, this picture is a little confusing and concerning until you realize that this isn't actually anyone's dog or cat lying in this tub, though the idea could work for your furry friend!
The animal pictured here is a stuffed teddy bear named Edward, but we imagine this method could work for dogs or cats alike, as long as they like water! Even just sticking your pet's paws in some cold water could cool them down, or you'll just end up with wet paw prints all over your house.
Customer Service At Its Finest
During the European leg of the heatwave tour of July 2019, one bar in Amsterdam decided they'd use animals of the inflatable variety to help tourists and locals cool down.
"Good news: #heatwave under control here in Amsterdam!" tweeted out the bar, which was welcoming guests to dip their feet into the water while enjoying a drink along the canals. Do you think they changed the water out after every customer?
Keepin' It Swamp-Free
We've all been there. Sometimes on a really hot day, certain parts of your body seem to get heated up more than others. This cat named Zoe is experiencing such a day.
Zoe's Mom Erin shared this to Twitter and said that Zoe just wanted to air out her fanny. Looks like she's doing a great job angling up to the fan to keep her rear end nice and cool. There's no swamp butt on this kitty.
No Judgment Here
Hey, if it's good enough for the birds then why not for an adorable and overheated raccoon? This little fella happened across a birdbath and figured he’d take advantage of that nice cool water.
If you think about it, it’s really not that weird. The birdbath is pretty much the perfect size for Rocky and that inviting green color makes it look like one of those fun kiddie pools. We wonder if he shared with any birds.
30 Minutes And Counting
This dog found his perfect cooling-off spot and he's not budging. The caption that went along with this photo said "he's been sitting like this for 30 minutes." And why shouldn't he?
From the looks on this pup's face, he's really enjoying his relaxing dip in the family pool. We really love that he's basically blocking the steps for anyone else who might want to get in to cool off.
All The Fruits Are Mine
For many of us, summertime means getting to enjoy some seasonal fruits that we might not get to eat during the other seasons. This bathing beauty apparently has the same feelings.
She is set for a while. Not only does she have an amazing pool to swim in, but she also has a stash of some of the tastiest summer fruit ever -- and she's not sharing. Don't even ask.
Just Dunk It
When you're really feeling overheated, sometimes you just need to cool off fast. This indoor kitty couldn't find a birdbath or other 'kiddie pool' to crawl into, so she made do with what she did have access to. It just happened to be a sink with the faucet running.
Aaah, that look of sheer relief is contagious. She can't even keep her little pink tongue inside her mouth, she’s just letting it all hang out in the cold water.
It's The Simple Things
Sometimes, it really is the little things in life that can bring the most satisfaction. For this chilled-out pup, the best thing in the world right now is just lying there on the bed with a fan blowing right over him.
You can almost feel how relaxed he is just from looking at the picture. He truly has this zen thing figured out for himself. All he needs is for someone to turn his fan on and he's set.
You Don't See This Every Day
As you can imagine, summertime can get really hot in Brazil. It's right on the equator, after all. So zookeepers there have their work cut out when the temperatures soar and animals feel the heat’s effects.
This lion named Simba at the city zoo in Rio de Janeiro is cooling off with a special treat, a popsicle. But this isn’t a strawberry or watermelon-flavored pop. Nope, it’s frozen meat! To a lion, this treat is about as good as it gets when it’s hot.
Backyard Fun
We bet some of your happiest childhood summertime moments resemble scenes just like this one. There's really nothing more fun on a hot day than playing with a sprinkler in the backyard.
This dog is having a blast in the sprinkler. The look on his face is totally priceless... he's lost in the moment and doesn't care how doofy he might look. You stay cool, pup. We won't judge you for it.
Everything's Better With Friends
What's better than cooling off in a tub of chilly water on a really hot summer day? Doing it with a bunch of friends, of course! This adorable pup didn’t want to leave his ducky buddies out of the action so he brought them all into the tub with him.
Not only is he cooling off in the water, it looks like he might be taking a little taste of it too. Hey, gotta stay hydrated.
That's A Mouthful
Elephants have a few different ways to cool off. For one thing, they can flap their giant ears around. This actually releases heat as it fans them off at the same time.
Of course, elephants also enjoy chilling down in the water just like all the other animals we've seen here. This sweetheart named Donna lives at the Whipsnade Zoo in England. She just finished playing a game of soccer with her keepers and is cooling off with a giant spray of water!
Chillin' In The Crisper Drawer
Reddit user tacticalkumquat shared this adorable photo of their cat's not-so-unique way to stay cool. "Reddit, meet Oliver. Staying cool during the summer heat."
Another user commented that her kitty also likes to hang out in the fridge, even though she keeps her apartment temperature in the low 60's. Oliver must be really picky, because tacticalkumquat responded, "I usually keep it around 65-68. Guess it isn't good enough haha." Hey, we each have our own internal thermometer.
Can't Beat The Beach
Meet Nathan. He's a cat, and he likes to cool off the same way lots of us humans do: by going for a dip in the ocean! Many cats hate water but Nathan and his sister Winnie just love it.
They even have their own social media account, where their proud humans share lots of fun pics of the felines exploring the coast. Nathan was initially found in a box on the side of a highway, and Winnie was later discovered abandoned near a beach that Nathan frequents. This is a match made in heaven!
Piggy Peace
Did you know that a lot of pigs love to swim? It's true! There are a few places in the world that are famous for their wild swimming pigs. Exuma Bay in the Bahamas is perhaps the most well-known of these places.
At Exuma Beach, tourists can purchase a "Swimming Pigs Adventure Tour" package which includes a visit to Blowhole Beach, where you can swim along with the bathing beauties. This picture shows one of the Bahamian pigs enjoying a refreshing dip in the water.
You Won't Believe How Birds Stay Cool
Some people say that pigeons aren't too smart, but we think this picture proves otherwise. This park pigeon found a water fountain and knows just what to do with it to cool off. This is a pretty traditional way to beat the heat, but birds have another way to stay cool: poop.
That's right, birds poop on themselves when it's hot out. Their waste does the same thing that our sweat does: it cools them off as it evaporates. So don't judge next time you see a bird letting loose on a hot day.
The Cooling Effects Of Calcium
This is one smart kitty when it comes to beating the summertime heat! He's just taking a leisurely bath in a tub of cold milk. He must know that a milk bath can help exfoliate the skin and make it extra soft.
He's also aware of the importance of staying hydrated on a hot day, so he can simply lean down and take a big refreshing drink of the milk whenever he feels thirsty -- the purrrfect solution!
Keep Those Pups Shaved!
This is one really important way that we humans can help our furry friends stay cool over the hot seasons: keep them shaved if possible. As you can see from this pic, you could pretty much make a second dog out of the fur that came off during grooming. Now just imagine if you had that much hair covering your body in the summer and how hot it could get.
Note: check with a professional groomer before getting the clippers out. Some breeds have fur that doesn't grow back correctly if shaved, and they need it for cold seasons.
Puppy Pool Party!
Now, these are some lucky pups. Not all of us have access to a pool, let alone one with a fun tunnel slide! These two corgis look like they're having lots of summertime fun together.
Some dog breeds enjoy swimming more than others, and corgis are obviously one of those that do like to take a dip from time to time. We just hope that they invited everyone in the class to their party!
I Scream, You Scream
You scream, we scream, we all scream for ice cream! Even big cats like this one in Berlin, Germany, that is being offered a special ice cream cone to keep cool during a heat wave.
Unlike the lion's popsicle made of frozen meat that we saw earlier, this one appears to be made of more... traditional ingredients, including a sugar cone. We hope this kitty enjoyed her cool summertime treat!
Taking It To The Extreme
This picture went viral a few years ago and it's easy to see why. Lots of dogs enjoy a romp in the sprinkler every now and then, especially on a hot day. But this daring dog took his love of sprinklers to the extreme and lucky for us, someone caught it on film.
This looks like a fire-hydrant strength blast. They had better get that sprinkler checked out before it takes someone out as they walk by.
A Cold Bubble Bath Will Do The Trick
This gorgeous horse is a famous American Thoroughbred racehorse named Orb. He's getting a much-deserved bubble bath here after winning the Kentucky Derby in 2013. He had won four consecutive races before that one! Someone give that horse a trophy!
By the looks of this picture, Orb is loving his cool-off. That tongue sticking out to catch some of the water drops is just too perfect. He's definitely basking in the afterglow of his win here.
