Pet-Friendly Activities for the Hot Texas Heat

Gabrielle Roll with the Humane Society of North Texas
5 hours ago
2 min read

Give your pets some stimulation while keeping them safe in the summer heat!

Heat can be an extreme challenge in North Texas, especially for pets. During the hot summer months, it is important for pets to stay active while also being safe.

Here are a few activities for your pets this summer:

1. Indoor Enrichment

On extremely hot days, provide your pets with indoor enrichment to help prevent overheating. Some indoor enrichment activities are:

● Puzzle Feeders: Pets love puzzle feeders to keep them occupied and stimulated while also staying cool during the hot days. If you don’t have your own puzzle feeder, make one by putting treats in a towel and wrapping it up to create a DIY puzzle.

● Frozen Treats: Not only a fun activity for pets, but also extremely helpful in cooling pets down. You can make your own frozen treats by stuffing a Kong toy with various ingredients like Greek yogurt, peanut butter, blueberries, wet dog food, and more!

2. Local Fort Worth Outings and Events

Fort Worth has amazing opportunities for pets, from pet-friendly parks to air-conditioned buildings; a great way to get your pets some stimulation and tire them out!

Volunteer enjoying time in the shade at a local park with dog

● Dog Friendly Parks: Taking pets to local parks gives pets the opportunity to enjoy nature while staying cool in shaded, grassy areas. Make sure to go early in the morning or at night, when the pavement is cool, or have pets wear booties. A great pet friendly park is Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge.

● Pet-Friendly Stores: Taking pets to Home Depot and Lowe’s allows them to experience new sniffs and sights and meet new people while also being in air conditioning. Perfect stimulation for a hot day.

3. Water Enrichment

Doing water activities with pets allows them to spend the time they need outside while also staying cool.

Shaggy brown dog splashing in a turquoise kiddie pool on green grass, playful and wet.

● At Home Water Enrichment: Keep pets cool with sprinklers or a kiddy pool in the backyard. Not only will pets play and have fun, but they’ll also stay cool.

● Local Lakes and Rivers: Pet-friendly rivers and lakes are the perfect place for hot summer days. Pets can play, relax, and stay cool. Make sure to practice proper pet safety and provide life jackets for pets who are not strong swimmers.

Keep pets safe from summer heat with these fun activities. Make sure to sign up for our newsletter to hear about more tips and tricks. For more ideas on what to do with your dog when it's too hot, visit NHSPCA.org.