Swimming pools and ice cream: Pets overcome heat wave in France
Dogs and cats in the Paris region are suffering from the record heat wave in France. To overcome the rise in temperature, animals are cooling off in swimming pools, drinking water from their owners' bottles and even eating special ice cream.
With temperatures exceeding 40°C in some parts of the country in recent days, an animal rescue center in Gennevilliers, near Paris, has been making an extra effort to care for its 80 dogs.
"We have a lot of accessories that we use every summer, especially swimming pools and ice cream made for dogs," Audrey Collin, an employee at the animal center, told Reuters on Friday (26).
"It might just seem like fun and quirky stuff in an average summer, but during a heatwave, these items can quickly become vital," he added.
The center, which also houses 80 cats and some rabbits, prepares ice creams made from broth, meat, dry food and, occasionally, cheese, to help the dogs cool down.
Some dogs live in enclosures with green roofs, which helps to alleviate the heat, while others live in indoor spaces where the temperature is maintained at 32°C.
In other parts of Paris - a city that is home to around 100,000 dogs - pet owners have been rushing to buy hydration accessories such as water bottles, portable bowls and pools with fountains.
Dog drinks water to cool off amid heat wave in Paris, France - Reuters
Yoann Palombo, manager of a pet products store, said his establishment sold 12,000 cooling mats in three weeks, and that sales soared 112% compared to the same period last year.
"This time, it was because no one was prepared; we didn't expect such an intense heat wave. That's why all seasonal products were sold out quickly," he said.
Dog owners in Paris also report that they are adapting to the heatwave by walking their animals early in the morning or late at night to escape the scorching sun.
Many have said that a wet towel has also helped.
Paris residents jump into canal to escape heat wave | CNN BRAZIL
Source: CNN