“When a dog walks on hot asphalt, he can burn his feet – just like a human walking barefoot,” Zurich Police Spokesman Michael Walker told Swiss public radio, SRFExternal link, on Tuesday. An air temperature of 30°C (86°F) can feel like 50-55°C (122-131°F) on the ground, said Walker.
Like much of Europe, Switzerland has seen record temperatures during a prolonged heatwave this July, while rainfall has been sporadic.
So as part of their Hot Dog campaignExternal link, police officers from Zurich’s canine unit are out speaking to dog owners to explain how hot weather – and overheated pavements – can be especially painful for animals.
To check if the ground is too hot, police suggest placing the back of a hand on the asphalt and holding it there for five seconds. If it’s too hot for the hand, then it’s too hot for a paw. Small dogs should then be carried, and larger ones should wear special protective booties, they say.
Such shoes are also worn by police dogs investigating break-ins, where there might be broken glass or other sharp hazards on the ground. At the same time, the shoes protect car seats when a sniffer dog has to inspect a vehicle.
Police are also reminding pet owners about the importance of providing enough drinking water and the dangers of leaving an animal in a vehicle on a hot day.
Geneva decides not to remove controversial memorials
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The city of Geneva has presented an action plan regarding a series of controversial local statues and monuments of historical figures linked to racism, colonialism or slavery.
University of Lausanne calls for end to pro-Palestine sit-in
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The pro-Palestinian occupation continues at the University of Lausanne (UNIL). On Monday evening, a group of students refused to agree to the deadline set by the rectorate.
Ukraine peace conference should include Russia, says Chinese ambassador
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China supports a peace conference on the Ukraine war that would see equal participation of all parties, says Chinese Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui.
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A majority of Swiss citizens have open attitudes towards various infertility treatments, including even egg donation, which is currently prohibited.
Reports of Swiss cyber fraud almost doubled in six months
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The head of the new Federal Office for Cybersecurity (FOC), Florian Schütz, has presented a new strategy after just over four months in office.
Ecological status of Swiss streams insufficient according to study
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Pesticide use and obstructions of waterways have a particularly negative impact on sensitive organisms, completely absent in 70% of streams analysed.
Train line between Brig and Domodossola interrupted
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One day after a derailment approximately 15 kilometres from the Swiss border, BLS is running buses for passengers between Preglia and Domodossola, in Italy.
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Giraffes, coatis, camels – the Swiss love animals of all shapes and sizes. More than one million pets were registered in 2017.
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As part of an overall animal protection reform, the Swiss government has banned the common practice of boiling lobsters without stunning them first.
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Flailing and splashing, a panicky-looking woman cries out from the middle of the lake, and a Belgian Shepherd leaps from a nearby boat.
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