The Nest — #NationalPetDay

Just like human police officers, police dogs retire after a certain age. According to the City of Tampa (Fla.) K9 Unit, healthy police dogs generally retire at age 8 or 9. The majority of these dogs retire to live with their handlers. However, sometimes a dog is put up for adoption. The process to adopt a retired police dog can be arduous compared to adopting a regular dog. Due to their training, shelters need to be certain an adopting owner understands the needs of the dog and can handle them. Step 1 Contact your local police stations to express your...

Never, ever leave your dog in the car; Make sure your dog has unlimited access to fresh water; Make sure your dog has access to shade when outside; Take walks during the cooler hours of the day; When walking, try to stay off of hot surfaces (like asphalt) because it can burn your dog's paws; If you think it's hot outside, it's even hotter for your pet – make sure your pet has a means of cooling off; Keep your dog free of external parasites (fleas, ticks) and heartworms – consult your veterinarian about the best product for your pet;...