Dog Days of Summer
Pet-friendly hotels
For our suburban friends looking for a weekend getaway to the city, we recommend the following: The Drake Hotel (140 E. Walton); Four Seasons (120 E. Delaware); Ritz-Carlton (160 E. Pearson); W Hotel City Center (172 W. Adams); Sofi tel (20 E. Chestnut); House of Blues Hotel (333 N. Dearborn); Marriott Hotel (540 N. Michigan); Palmer House Hilton (17 E. Monroe.) These are a few of the fur-friendly hotels in the Windy City. Some even offer some pet-pampering!
We especially love Hotel Monaco (225 N. Wabash) because they offer the PAWS Chicago Pet Package, which includes pet beds, treats, walking service and more, PLUS they donate10% of the proceeds to PAWS Chicago’s No Kill shelter!
Festivals
Classic Chicago in the summer! Outdoor festivals, like the Wells Street Art Fair, the Newberry Festival of the Arts, the Oz Festival and the Printer’s Row Book Fair are a few options. As exciting as the ambiance is, watch that it does not get too loud or too crowded, when your canine companions much prefer the safety of home.
Farmer’s Markets
A favorite Saturday morning summer tradition is a walk or jog over to the Green City Market in Lincoln Park near the zoo, one of the many farmer’s markets throughout the city. Your pet will enjoy the homemade biscuits while you can peruse the fresh, organic merchandise.
Shopping on Armitage & Halsted
If you love to shop, your pet would love to accompany you. Most of the boutiques along Armitage & Halsted welcome your pets and provide water or treats. Be sure to visit PAWS Chicago’s Angels with Tails adoption event on August 24, when homeless pets take over. And remember, supporting local businesses, boutiques and charities is the best way to help sustain our local economy.
K9 Cruises with Mercury Cruise Line
All Aboard! Dogs and their owners can enjoy a cruise along the Chicago River with the wind in their hair, all the while learning great facts about Chicago’s amazing architecture. Board the boat at lower Michigan Avenue, Sundays at 10 a.m.
Wiggly Field
After a long Chicago winter of lounging around the house, Wiggly Field is a great place to shed those extra pounds. Located at 2645 N. Sheffield, it’s always clean and filled with dogs of all shapes and sizes—and there’s lots of space to play.
Training/Running on the Lakefront
Taking your dog for a fun run along the lakefront can be a great exercise for both of you. Just be attentive so that your pet doesn’t overheat (see page 19.) While your pup may be excited to be with you outside, he won’t always know when to stop for a break. Make sure you stop frequently in shade and give your friend a rest and some water. If it’s too hot outside, think twice before inviting him along and avoid mid-day hours.
One fantastic way to put your jogging efforts to good use is to join the PAWS Chicago Marathon Team. Joining the team allows you to raise money to save homeless pets, while giving you a team environment, enrollment in the CARA (Chicago Area Runner’s Association) 18-week training program and one-year membership, a pre-race Pawsta Party, post-race parties, and more!
Dog Beaches
Once you’ve exercised your body back to its swim-suit-ready shape at Wiggly, you’ll have to hit Chicago’s ever-popular doggy beach at the Montrose Beach, just off the Wilson exit on Lake Shore Drive. What could be better than sun, sand, and swimming?
Doggie Dining & Happy Hours
Don’t forget the new legislation that permits dogs to dine in outdoor patios! We love both O’Briens restaurants (1528 N. Wells and on the river at Wabash and Wacker) with all their outdoor space, but don’t forget places like Tarantino’s on Armitage, close to PAWS Chicago’s Adoption & Humane Center, and other neighborhood spots that have outdoor seating in the summer. On Wednesday nights we can also swing by Joe’s on Weed Street for their weekly, dog-friendly happy hour.
Just be sure to call ahead because each establishment must have a special license that makes their outdoor area pet-friendly. If your favorite hot spot doesn’t allow pets, talk with management about securing the license from the city for all to enjoy!
PAWS Chicago’s All PAWS on Deck Beach Party
Paws down, the number one, best event of the summer is PAWS Chicago’s Annual Beach Party, All Paws On Deck! Don’t miss it Thursday, July 17th at 6 p.m. at Castaways at the North Avenue Beach House. Pups and people alike can dance the night away, enjoy the silent auction and dine on a great beachy dinner buffet and frozen tropical drinks. This is the highlight of the season!
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Café Canine
Alderman Gene Schulter and Biscuit get ready for lunch at Jury’s (4337 N. Lincoln), one of the many dog friendly restaurants in the northside of Chicago.
Last fall, 47th Ward Alderman Schulter, in collaboration with Alderman Burnett (Ward 27) and Alderman Reilly (Ward 42), sponsored a new ordinance allowing restaurants to apply for a license to have dogs permitted in their outdoor dining area. This new ordinance was approved by the City Council on September 5, 2007 and went into effect on January 1, 2008.
The ordinance allows restaurateurs the choice as to whether or not they would like to allow dogs in their outdoor dining area. If the restaurant chooses to allow dogs in their outdoor dining area, they will be required to apply for a special permit.The ordinance was under consideration for a year before it passed the Committee of License and Consumer Affairs and the full City Council this past fall.
The ordinance provides rules and regulations that are designed to ensure the health and safety of all restaurant patrons and staff, while still allowing dog owners the freedom to enjoy a meal with their dogs. Under the regulations, restaurants are required to post a sign indicating that dogs are allowed in the outdoor café. Dogs must have up-to-date vaccination tags or proof of vaccination. The ordinance also outlines sanitation requirements that the restaurants must follow.
Alderman Schulter, a long-time proponent of pet friendly legislation, worked in close collaboration with the business community, animal advocates, and public health officials to create an ordinance that would provide freedom for the business owners while still ensuring that the health and safety needs of the patrons are being maintained.
“The goal of this ordinance is to legalize a practice that is already happening in many restaurants around the area,” comments Alderman Schulter. “We want to legalize the practice, set health code boundaries, and give the restaurants the choice in how they want to handle the issue.” Prior to this ordinance, the City’s Health Department had begun to crack down on restaurants who had turned a blind eye to dogs in their outdoor café.
“This is a great benefit for many Chicagoans and Chicago restaurants,” Alderman Schulter continued. “This ordinance will allow people to spend more time with their pets while enjoying some of the best din- ing in our City. I know of a few really great restaurants in my Ward that have already applied for the new permit. I am really proud of our work on this ordinance.”
While looking for outdoor dining options this season, consider supporting dog-friendly businesses.
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Heatstroke: You can Save your Dog’s Life by being Prepared
A run in the park on the first day of summer. A quick trip to the grocery store while Rover waits in the car. A glorious sunshiny day in the fenced-in backyard. How could any of these seemingly harmless activities kill your beloved pet? Heatstroke.
Heatstroke is a dangerous, deadly, and all too frequent summer ailment that strikes dogs despite the most conscientious owner’s best intentions. Armed with the facts and a little planning, heatstroke is one epidemic that can be easily avoided.
A dog’s body temperature is normally between 101°F and 102°F. All it takes is a 3-degree rise in Rover’s temperature and he is suddenly in danger of overheating. When his temperature reaches 108°F his heart, brain, kidneys, liver and intestinal tract begin to rapidly break down.
WARNING: Heatstroke is dangerous, deadly and the most common summer ailment for your dog. You can save your dog’s life by being prepared.
His life depends on his caregiver’s acute awareness of the symptoms— some obvious, some subtle. Below are the most important symptoms to look for when enjoying activities with a pet in warm weather. Watch Rover carefully for changes in his normal behavior and act quickly if he displays one or many of these symptoms:
Danger Signs
- Rapid frantic breathing
- Very red tongue
- Dry mouth and nose
- Dull grayish pink gums or extremely red gums
- Staring without seeing
- Extra wide open eyes
- Thick saliva
- Resistance to walk or move
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Physical collapse
- Failing to respond to commands
- Muscle weakness
Quickly following the below emergency response guide will increase the chances of saving Rover’s life:
- If possible, wet him with a hose or in a shower with cool water. If outdoors, cups or bottles of water can be wiped or poured onto his stomach and groin. Never use ice-cold water, which causes blood vessels to constrict and will not allow the heat to escape.
- Do not soak him in a bathtub of water. When a dog’s fur is soaked it will heat up next to his skin and become an insulator, not allowing internal heat to escape.
- Get him into a shaded, well-ventilated area. Turn the air conditioning on high, turn on a fan or open windows. If outdoors put him into an air conditioned car to cool him.
- Sponge his groin area and underneath the front legs with cool water.
- Never cover him, even with a soaking wet towel, because this will only trap the heat. Wipe him instead. Remember, ventilation is critical.
- Feed cool (not cold water) slowly but do not allow him to drink excessively.
- Wipe him down with rubbing alcohol, if available, but avoid his face. Rubbing alcohol is safe to use and a good coolant since it evaporates quickly.
- Use a bag of frozen vegetables as a pillow.
- Be sure to stay with him and be attentive. Never leave him alone or put him in a crate.
- Once his temperature begins to drop, stop all cooling methods. Dogs’ own bodies will continue to cool themselves once the cooling starts and should not be overcooled.
- Most importantly, if a dog has suffered from heatstroke he must be taken to a vet. This is important, even if it seems that he’s cooled off and behaving normally. Often additional steps, such as IV’s, are necessary.
High Risk Dogs
“At risk” dog breeds require extra vigilance in summer months. The breeds that are particularly susceptible to heatstroke include Pugs, Pekinese, Boxers, Mastiffs, Rotweillers, Dobermans, and, in general, dark-coated dogs such as Black Labs. Puppies under six months are also extra prone to heatstroke, as are dogs on diuretics, overweight dogs or muzzled dogs.
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