Heat, humidity and a heavy working dog

A New Jersey Department of Health heat release tells residents to keep pets indoors in air-conditioned rooms during extreme heat and never to leave dogs or other pets in parked cars, because car interiors can reach dangerous temperatures within minutes.

After a July 2026 heat wave, a July 2026 heat wave release from the Department of Health reported 387 emergency department visits and 29 suspected heat-related deaths among people over four days, a reminder that the same conditions threaten animals.

1. Exercise before sunrise or after dark.
2. Carry water on every outing.
3. Use grass or shaded paths, not blacktop.
4. Take the dog home rather than leaving it in the car.
5. Know where the nearest emergency vet is.

A professional should be able to describe how a specific dog handles humidity and what its rest schedule looks like. A dog sold as unaffected by weather deserves a second look.