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Hot Weather: Animals Find Ways To Stay Cool (Photos)

The Huffington Post Canada   First Posted: 07/21/11 03:10 PM ET   Updated: 09/20/11 06:12 AM ET

We're not the only ones sweltering under the "heat dome." Animals, particularly those from cooler climates aren't handling the heat too well either.

Zookeepers around North American have had to get creative to keep their animals cool, giving them blocks of ice, hosing them down and more. Even animals used to warmer climates have needed a bit of extra attention.

Finally, it's important not to forget your pets. Dogs should never, ever be left in a hot car and be sure that your pets are getting plenty of hydration. They feel the heat too.

Check out our gallery of animals coping with the heat below:

Dog days
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A dog lays on a sprinkler at a dog park on the Upper East Side of New York City on July 21, 2011 as people and animals try different ways to beat the hot weather. Heat indexes are expected to reach near 105F degrees (40.5C) .
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We're not the only ones sweltering under the "heat dome." Animals, particularly those from cooler climates aren't handling the heat too well either. Zookeepers around North American have had to ge...
We're not the only ones sweltering under the "heat dome." Animals, particularly those from cooler climates aren't handling the heat too well either. Zookeepers around North American have had to ge...
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peacekitten
primum non nocere.
4504 Fans
03:15 PM on 07/22/2011
i'm very glad theses animals are able to cool off but my heart goes out to those who don't have access to this kind of care and must find shade in doorways and under hedges, and who can't find a drink of water when they need it so desperately.

god help them all, they're going to need it.
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jt4702
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05:49 PM on 07/21/2011
My dogs are all lying down in different AC vents throughout my house. As long as they don't block the one by my desk, we're golden.
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DrJohnnySkeptic
The road to success is always under construction.
136 Fans
04:39 PM on 07/21/2011
I put damp paper towels on my cats' tummies when they are lying down. That gives them a lot of relief from the heat. I also fill up their water dishes fresh each morning and add ice cubes a few times a day.
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alguien
788 Fans
04:54 PM on 07/21/2011
one of my cats refuses to drink water if there are any foreign items floating in it-including ice. i once tried to cool their water down by putting ice cubes in it and my picky one just sat in front of the dish and cried. even after i took out the cubes, he STILL wouldn't drink and continued to not drink until i changed the water altogether.

my younger one, the little girl, is far less persnickety and will even drink ice water out of a glass.
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mamacat
1557 Fans
05:30 AM on 07/22/2011
I hang the water hose over a bowl in the front yard, let it drip, and all summer long the pigeons take showers. The cat will occasionally go over and chase them away, just to show them who's the boss.
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mamacat
1557 Fans
03:13 PM on 07/21/2011
I suspect the African Lion pictured in the article is used to the heat, although he sure appears to be enjoying that block of ice. The Polar Bear would probably like to be sitting inside an ice cave.
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