Sunday, July 1, 2012

It is HOT

It is hot here.  Actually, that is an understatement.  We are experiencing record breaking highs, not just for the day but all time record highs.  The afternoon temps are in the triple digits.  They have been for several days now and will be for several days more.
I am glad to finally not be cold but Petey is the creature most happy about this turn of events.   We can't keep the dog inside.  He's always loved melting in to the neighbor's black top driveway in the heat of the summer sun, but this is a whole new level.
The back-door to our house is on the west side of the house.  In the afternoon it always gets toasty warm in the summer.  The past few days the metal screen has been too hot to touch.  We've not latched the door so that it can just be pushed open.  Seriously, it is hot!
Petey, has insisted on going out and napping on the back porch right in the hot sun.  He'd lay there for hours if we'd let him.  We don't know why he's staying on the porch rather than going to the neighbor's driveway.  We think it might be his hips.  He doesn't like going up and down steps so much.  It matters not, he gets plenty of sun right there on the back porch.  It is closer to the sun too, since it is a little higher!
We are careful not to let him stay out more than about 20 minutes. We don't know if dogs can sunburn or not, but we do know they get heat stroke and heat exhaustion.  He'll come in when we make him.  He'll pant and carry on like he's just run 10 miles, but soon enough he's standing at the back-door wanting out again!
We stall him for as long as possible, but that dog is quite insistent.  We'll finally break down, let him out and the cycle starts over.  In fact, I think he's standing there now, looking forlorn, waiting for me to open the door.