TYLER — Animal Control in Tyler is out in force earlier this year due to the unusually long streak of heat we've been having - and they're trying to make sure animals are cool and hydrated.

Bob Gardner with Animal Control says so far this summer, they've dealt with as many cases of hot pets as they had in the entire summer last year - and the summer's not over yet.

Gardner tells KETK, sometimes pet owners will put out 5-gallon buckets of water for their pets to last the entire week.

With triple-digit temperatures that rapidly heat the water, along with dirt and even mosquito's, that can be a very bad idea.

He says even shallow bowls of water can really heat up quickly if left in the sun, so shade is key for both a pet's food - and of course - the pet.

"...this very interview that we're doing, I don't know what the temperature is out here today but we're fortunate enough that we've got a little bit of a breeze.  But we can sweat. and as we sweat, the breeze helps us to cool off and animals don't have that benefit....and they always have their fur coat on," Gardner said.

Gardner says if a pet is neglected out in the heat whether it be outdoors or in a car (that's just like an oven by the way) they could receive injuries like brain damage, or not survive at all.