Paw’s Corner: Hot pavement is a danger to pets

DEAR PAW’S CORNER: Walking around the farmer’s market this weekend, I confronted several people who brought their dogs into the market despite clear signage saying pets aren’t allowed. The reason for the sign is that the pavement is HOT! Summer temperatures regularly reach 90 to 100 degrees or more. All the dogs were limping and whining because the pads on their paws were burning! Please tell your readers to leave their pets at home and respect signs that say no pets. — Jeremy C. in Denver DEAR JEREMY: Absolutely! Folks, please know that pavement on a hot summer day is 40 to 50 degrees higher than the air temperature. On a hundreddegree day, pavement can reach 150 degrees Fahrenheit. In seconds, that kind of heat can cause second- and third-degree burns on a dog’s paws.