Keeping Dollar Cool and His Paws Safe This Summer

Living in Rangsit means the roads near our house get very hot by noon, and Dollar, my seven-year-old Corgi, is not built for that. He's short-legged, so his belly and paws sit close to the ground. Here's what I do now.

We walk before 7 in the morning or after 6 in the evening. Before every walk I put my hand on the pavement for seven seconds. If it's too hot for my hand, I carry him or we stay home.

I keep a cold towel in the car and a bottle of water with a small bowl. Dollar drinks more than he used to. Once a week I check his paw pads for cracks or redness and rinse off any sand or sticky tar. Simple habits, but they make a big difference in the afternoon heat.