Common sense pet safety for hot summer weather

Try to limit your pet’s activities outside in extreme heat.

Excerpt from The JOLT News:

Now, most of us already know how dangerous it is to leave your pet alone in a car or enclosure during extreme heat, but regardless, more than 1,300 pets die of heat exposure every year in the U.S.  There are most likely more that are not reported. 

In Washington, it is a Class 2 civil infraction to leave or confine any animal unattended in a motor vehicle or enclosed space if the animal could be harmed or killed by exposure to excessive heat, cold, lack of ventilation or lack of necessary water.  In our opinion, that is way too lenient: The punishment is nowhere in comparison to the needless and thoughtless suffering of an animal who trusted us to take care of them.An animal should never be left alone in a vehicle if below freezing or above 70 degrees.  Dogs with thicker fur and dogs with flat faces are more susceptible to heat stroke.  If it is 80 degrees outside, in just 10 minutes the inside of a car can get to 100 degrees.  After just half an hour, it gets to nearly 115.  Cracking a window or parking in the shade makes little or no difference.

If you see a child or animal unattended in a vehicle when the temperature is high, call 911.

Take an animal to a veterinarian immediately if the dog is experiencing symptoms of overheating, including:

• excessive panting
• drooling
• mild weakness
• collapsing

More severe symptoms include seizures, bloody diarrhea or body temperature over 104 degrees. Try to cool an animal down with cool water if possible.

Another reminder – dogs’ paws are sensitive and can burn easily on concrete or asphalt. Dogs can get thermal burns to their paw pads, have severe tissue damage and chronic pain.  Dogs do not sweat like humans do, but through their paws and adjust to the heat differently. Try putting your hand on the sidewalk and if it hurts your hand, then it is too hot for your pet. If, during extreme heat, you do decide or need to take your pet for a walk then please try to stay on grass or walk in the early morning or late afternoon.Try to limit your pet’s activities outside in extreme heat. Always, always have fresh water available. You might need to change an outside water bowl two or three times on a hot day. I have seen people put water bowls near sidewalks for dogs to take a drink during walks.  Some may not think it’s a good idea to do that, but we disagree — as long as you make sure the bowl is clean and the water is changed frequently. 

Pink dogs

Something we never realized before is that you should limit sun exposure for pets with white or pink colored ears as they are more susceptible to skin cancer.

In case of emergency

In case of heat exposure or if you do need to get your pet to a veterinarian immediately, you may be too upset or flustered to find one unless you already have a veterinarian to call.

Most, if not all, of our fantastic local veterinary facilities will take emergencies during their normal business hours but if they are filled up or closed, they will refer you to one of the four listed below.

Below are veterinarians who deal with pet emergencies on a 24-hour basis in Thurston County.

Olympia Pet Emergency
4441 Pacific Ave SE, Olympia WA 98503
360-455-5155

Olympia Veterinary Specialists
902 Union Ave SE, Olympia WA 98501
360-339-3596

In our own experience, we ended up having to take a dog to Tacoma or Lakewood.  These clinics are sometimes used as emergency referrals by veterinarians in our area due to their proximity to us: 

Blue Pearl Pet Hospital
2510 S 184^th St Ste. 30D, Lakewood WA 98499
253-474-0791

Summit Veterinary Hospital
2505 S 80^th St, Tacoma WA 98409
253-983-1114

We hope this information has helped. That is our intent. We promise to have a more enlightening and fun segment next week but felt this subject had to be the very first. We hope you agree.

Paws For Thoughts

NATIONAL RESCUE DOG DAY is observed on May 20 each year to bring awareness to the countless number of amazing dogs in shelters around the country who deserve a second chance at a forever home

Thurston County plans to raise up to $42M to purchase of building for sheriff’s office, improve other buildings

Excerpt from The Olympian via The Chronicle:

Thurston County plans to raise as much as $42 million by issuing bonds to finance the purchase of a new building for the Sheriff’s Office and improve other county buildings.

The Board of County Commissioners voted 3-1, with a one abstention, last week to approve acquiring and remodeling of various county facilities.

Bond proceeds may be used to improve an existing building or buy land to construct a new building for the Sheriff’s Office, according to county spokesperson Meghan Porter and county documents. The county also plans to use the proceeds to renovate the Auditor’s ballot processing center at its Mottman Complex and to improve the security system at its Family and Juvenile Court in Tumwater.

The projects for the Sheriff’s Office and the Auditor’s Office will be paid for using revenue from the Public Safety Tax that voters passed last November, Campbell said. Other available county funds would be used to fund additional infrastructure or capital improvements, per Porter.

The county does not expect the bond to lead to an increase in property tax, according to Porter.

While most of that funding is designated to boost staffing at the Sheriff’s Office, a fraction of it is intended to support election security infrastructure, according to the county.

+ The Seattle Times: WA politicians have plenty to say on Trump conviction

The prospect of appearing on the ballot with a presidential candidate convicted of 34 felonies did nothing to dampen Donald Trump’s support among prominent Washington state Republicans.

Political reaction to Trump’s conviction on all 34 counts of falsifying records to cover up a sex scandal in the homestretch of the 2016 election was swift.

Washington Democrats largely praised the jury’s decision, saying the verdict shows no one is above the law.

Many top Republicans did the opposite, echoing Trump’s claims that he was the victim of political persecution and that the criminal legal system is corrupt. That sentiment was echoed even by some GOP candidates who have sought to distinguish themselves from the most MAGA, pro-Trump wing of the GOP.

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Joe Kent (GOP, Dist 3), added the verdict “does nothing to disqualify President Trump from holding office, and I look forward to casting my ballot for him in November.”

Kent, on the social media platform X, reacted in apocalyptic terms. 

“The system we fought for & many died for is being snuffed out before our eyes because the democrats only care about power,” wrote Kent, a decorated Army Special Forces combat veteran. “The democrats destroying our justice system won’t stop Trump from winning, it likely just earned him more votes.”

Gluesenkamp Perez (D, Dost 3) didn’t immediately react to the verdict Thursday.

+ Editor’s note: Regardless of all of Trump’s blather about a rigged trial, he opted NOT to take the stand to speak in his own defense, as previously saying he “absolutely” would. Sentencing will be in July.

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Former president is convicted of all 34 counts by a N.Y. jury

The verdict comes hours after jurors reheard portions of David Pecker’s and Michael Cohen’s testimony this morning.

The jury’s verdict is the first time a former president has been convicted of a crime.

Excerpt from NBC News:

A New York jury has found Donald Trump guilty on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records — the first time a former U.S. president has been convicted of a crime.

The verdict was read in the Manhattan courtroom where Trump has been on trial since April 15. He had pleaded not guilty to all 34 counts of falsifying business records related to a hush money payment made by his former lawyer Michael Cohen to adult film star Stormy Daniels in the final weeks of the 2016 presidential election.

Trump looked down with his eyes narrowed as the jury foreperson read the word “guilty” to each count.

The jury reached its verdict after 9.5 hours of deliberations, which began Wednesday. 

The historic conviction comes as Trump is the presumptive Republican nominee for president.

The judge thanked the jurors for their service in the weeks-long trial. “You gave this matter the attention it deserved, and I want to thank you for that,” Judge Juan Merchan told them.

Trump’s attorney Todd Blanche made a motion for acquittal after the jury left the room, which the judge denied.

Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass told the jury in his closing arguments earlier this week that “the law is the law and it applies to everyone equally. There is no special standard for this defendant.” “You, the jury, have the ability to hold the defendant accountable,” Steinglass said.

+ PFLAG Olympia: Help support two local LGBTQ+ youth organizations – Pizza Klatch and Stonewall Youth

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From Olympia’s Capital City Pride:

Yelm’s Lasher vaults to state meet record, plus more from boys 3A/2A track and field

Excerpt from The Bellingham Herald via yahoo!news:

Jordan Lasher didn’t even enter the fray at the WIAA state 3A boys pole vault on Saturday at Mount Tahoma Stadium until the bar had reached 15 feet. That meant he passed on every height from 12-0 through 14-6.

By the time the Yelm senior and defending state champion took an attempt, just three other competitors remained in the competition. Lasher was successful on his first try, established a height, then sat back again while the other three participants who also made it at 15-0 – Mead’s Kadmiel Lopez, Bainbridge’s Yafei Shou and Interlake’s Lawson Campbell – took their shots at 15-3.

Each of the other three missed three times at 15-3, eliminating themselves. The bar went to 15-6. Lasher missed twice before making his third attempt with plenty of room to spare.

The repeat state title now in hand, Lasher went after more. He made 16 feet on the first try. That gave the Tornado a chance at the 3A meet record of 16-3, set in 2016 by Bishop Blanchet’s Zach Shugart.

Lasher chose to blow right by, setting the bar at 16-6, a height he again made with just one try. He followed the successful vault with a back flip in the pit.

Click here here to read the full story.

+ CNBC: The Transportation Security Administration said that Friday was the single busiest day at U.S. airports on record, with 3 million passengers screened, beating the mark set at Thanksgiving last year.

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Don’t forget to do this before heading to the airport this summer

Excerpt from The Points Guy:

Summer 2024 is fast approaching, and with record crowds expected at airports over the next few months, there’s no doubt it will be a busy travel season. In fact, more than 3.5 million people are expected to fly in the U.S. over Memorial Day weekend alone.

At many airports across the country, busy travel periods equal full parking lots. In the last few years, we’ve seen parking lots regularly hit capacity at numerous airports across the country, and we expect the same to happen at some destinations again this week. A few airport social media accounts are already offering some warnings to that effect.

To ensure a spot for your car at your preferred airport, plan to lock in that reservation now or in the very near future. As an added bonus, booking in advance is sometimes cheaper than the drive-up rate.

Bottom line

When you’re hustling to make a flight, the last thing you want to do is drive in circles for 20 minutes searching for an airport parking space — or not be able to get into the parking lot at all.

Hot menu items return to Alaska Airlines’ main cabin — here’s the menu

Excerpt from The Points Guy:

Seattle-based Alaska Airlines serves complimentary hot meals to first-class cabin passengers on most flights more than 670 miles.

But since 2017, passengers in main cabin and premium class have had to make do with a limited menu of prepaid cold meals and snack boxes. Otherwise, they would have to take a chance on being able to purchase a boxed picnic pack on board.

The lack of a hot menu in the main cabin dates back to Alaska Airlines’ acquisition of Virgin America in 2016. With that deal, Alaska Airlines received Virgin America’s 61 Airbus aircraft, and those planes didn’t have ovens in the main cabin.

Alaska Airlines retired the Virgin America brand in 2018, and it retired the last of the Virgin America Airbus fleet in early 2023. Now, as part of Alaska’s current fleet standardization, it is installing ovens in the main cabin galleys.

“With this change, we began work behind the scenes to develop an expanded menu with hot food options,” Todd Traynor-Corey, managing director of guest products at Alaska Airlines, said. “After extensive testing we’re expanding our menu by offering a variety of delicious hot sandwiches and entrees in addition to a variety of fresh food options available via pre-order.”

Carnitas breakfast bowl

Monte Cristo breakfast sandwich

Panang curry chicken

Pretzel roll sliders

Food prices

The new main cabin hot menu prices range from $10.50 for the Monte Cristo breakfast sandwich to $11.50 for the carnitas breakfast bowl, the panang curry chicken and the pretzel roll sliders. In comparison, the cold menu options range from $8 for the Northwest deli, Mediterranean tapas and kid’s choice Picnic Packs to $11.50 for options that include a chicken curry wrap, Caul Me Maybe salad and several other choices.

The hot menu items are only available to passengers who preorder on the Alaska mobile app or the website from two weeks to 20 hours before their flight. Most of the cold menu options also require advance orders.

+ The Olympian via yahoo!news: More positions axed and hours cut in Yelm Schools. Program and service cuts coming in June

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Second wave of Yelm district reductions begins, recalls underway

Next batch of cuts includes administration furloughs

Excerpt from the NVN:

Yelm Community Schools Superintendent Chris Woods said that it is “fair to say” the district is roughly halfway through its budget reductions as it looks to cut $15 million due to the double failure of its educational programs and operations levy.

The school board unanimously approved the second resolution of its reduced education plan, which was a reduction in force focusing on the Yelm Association of Educational Office Professionals (YAEOP), certificated and classified administrators, and athletics on Thursday, May 23.

Included in the resolution was a series of furloughs within the district office and the administration, which means that the employees don’t work for a specific number of days and are not compensated for that time off.

The following positions were furloughed:

• Superintendent — 10 days
• Assistant superintendent — 10 days
• Director of human resources —  eight days
• Director of finance —  eight days
• Communications and CTE director —  five days
• Director of student support —  five days
• Director of assessment —  five days
• Director of student learning — five days
• Director of transportation —  five days
• Director of facilities —  five days
• Director of food services —  five days
• Director of technology —  five days
• 14 principals and assistant principals —  five days
• Assistant director of student support — five days
• Assistant director of transportation —  five days
• Finance manager —  five days
• Four program coordinators —  five days

Woods said the district is also reducing seven positions at the district office, four coordinator positions and others within the Yelm Education Association (YEA) bargaining group.

Read the full story here.

Thurston Commissioner Gary Edwards plans to retire. Here’s who wants his seat in 2025

John W. Foster, a former Yelm mayor and veteran, is running as an independent with Edwards’ endorsement.

• Editor’s note: In April 2021, then-Mayor Foster issued this statement about plans to retire at the end of that year after 50 years of public service.

Excerpt from The Olympian via The Chronicle:

A new person will represent Thurston County Commissioner District 2 next year after incumbent Gary Edwards retires.

Edwards, 77, told The Olympian he is retiring from the county commission at the end of the year, when his second term is up.

“I’ve got kids and grandkids and great grandkids,” Edwards said. “I’d just like to spend some time with them.”

District 2 spans the county’s eastern border with Pierce County from the Nisqually Reach to Alder Lake and notably includes the City of Yelm, where Edwards lives. Prior to serving on the commission, Gary served in the U.S. Army and worked in law enforcement for nearly four decades, about half of which were spent as Thurston County Sheriff.

Though he plans to retire, Edwards, always plain spoken, said he plans to still be involved in the community.

“I’ll try to participate in some of the organizations around that are trying to do good stuff,” Edwards said. “I’m not going to just jump in the grave.”

Edwards’ departure from the county commission means voters will have to elect a new person to fill his seat.

John W. Foster, a former Yelm mayor and veteran, is running as an independent with Edwards’ endorsement. He faces Rachel Dreon, a Democrat with a professional background in behavioral health.