Staff reports  |  With record-breaking heat arriving in the Lowcountry earlier than usual, pet owners are advised by the Charleston Animal Society, which has issued an early heat advisory, to make sure to keep their pets cool in hot weather.  These tips are good any time of the summer.

Keep animals indoors and limit outdoor activities during a heat wave. People are urged to leave pets at home and not take them outside to the beach or other events. Even swimming, a dog can overheat.

“We know it’s always fun to take our pets with us, but we have to put their well-being first,” Dr. Lucy Fuller, senior director of veterinary care at Charleston Animal Society, said in a news release. “We are also reminding everyone not to leave pets in cars – even for a quick run into a store – it is just too dangerous.”