A Valley epidemic: dogs dying in heat

The Arizona sun is killing Valley dogs daily.

Nineteen dogs have been found dead of the heat in the past three weeks, according to the Arizona Humane Society.

"Just in this past weekend alone, eight," said Kimberly Searles with the Humane Society. "From Friday to Monday, eight dogs."

Searles said one dog was left tied with no access to shade or water.

"The dog was tied out in the yard," she said. "It was abandoned, apparently. There was a little tree over there, but unfortunately, the dog was tied up to the tether pole and obviously could not get to it."

Searles said dogs "need to have access to all-day shade or shelter where there can be a breeze going through. They've got to be able to be out of the sun, they need to have access to fresh drinking water -- in a non-metal container."

People need to think how they would feel to be left in the heat, she said.

"Keep your pets indoors. You wouldn't walk on the sidewalk in bare feet, so why would you have your pet do that? Why would you have your pet sitting out in the sun all day long?"

Searles urged people who see dogs left in the heat to call the Humane Society.

Meanwhile, the bad economy has left Humane Society shelters overflowing.

A big problem right now is a massive influx of kittens, which officials say shows the message of spay and neuter is not getting through to people.

"A dog's going to breed maybe once or twice a year while a cat can breed three or four times a year," said Dr. Nancy Bradley with the Humane Society. "So there's just a lot more of them."

Bradley added, "Everbody is surrendering their animals in record numbers. Our sign is out right now, asking people if they can wait, especially for cats. We're being overrun by cats right now."

Bradley urged people who must get rid of a pet to try to find it a new home and use the shelter as a last resort.