Jimmy Doherty urges Suffolk pet owners to protect animals during heatwave
With temperatures remaining high, he says everyone has their part to keep them safe
A Suffolk conservationist and farmer is urging people to take extra care of their pets and local wildlife as hot weather continues across the region
Jimmy Doherty, who runs Jimmy's Farm and Wildlife Park near Ipswich, said animals should always have access to shade and water during periods of extreme heat and warned owners not to put pets in situations where they are unable to regulate their body temperature.
"We really need to take care of our pets because we should never put them in a situation where they can't regulate their temperature," he said.
Keep pets cool
Doherty said dog owners should think carefully before taking pets out during the hottest parts of the day.
"Always make sure your dog or cat has got somewhere shaded, somewhere they can retreat to," he said.
"And if you're going to take your dog for a walk, do it early in the morning or late in the evening, just when it's a bit cooler."
He also encouraged people to think about smaller pets, including rabbits and guinea pigs, whose hutches can quickly become dangerously hot if left in direct sunlight.
The advice comes as high temperatures continue to affect much of the country, with animal welfare organisations also issuing warnings about the risks posed by hot weather.
Giant ice lollies and muddy wallows
At Jimmy's Farm and Wildlife Park, staff have introduced a range of measures to help animals stay cool.
Doherty said polar bears are able to escape the heat by swimming in deep pools and retreating into woodland areas where temperatures can be significantly lower.
Other animals are given frozen treats designed to keep them occupied while helping them cool down.
"We create ice lollies," he said.
"For the bigger animals, they are basically ginormous ice lollies that we freeze goodies in great big barrels or buckets.
"The animals spend a good couple of hours licking away and scratching the ice, getting to their favourite little treats."
Pigs, meanwhile, are encouraged to wallow in mud, which Doherty said helps cool them down while also protecting them from insects.
Climate change affecting wildlife
Beyond the immediate challenges of the current heatwave, Doherty said rising temperatures are becoming a growing concern for wildlife.
"Definitely our climate's changing. It's getting warmer and it's getting wetter as well," he said.
"Weather patterns have massively changed."
He warned that some species that rely on cooler conditions could face increasing pressure as temperatures continue to rise.
"Rising temperature will have a massive effect on wildlife, particularly those animals that want to exist in cooler areas," he said.
How people can help nature at home
Doherty believes individuals can play an important role in helping wildlife adapt.
He encouraged people to create habitats in their gardens, such as wildflower areas, ponds and log piles, which can provide food and shelter for a range of species.
"If you've got a little area of wildflowers or if you've got a log pile, that's a refuge for so many of our invertebrates," he said.
He also encouraged people to leave out water for wildlife during hot weather.
"Put a bird bath out there so there's plenty of water for the birds to drink," he said.
"You'll find that butterflies will come down and feed from that water as well."
Doherty said many people feel powerless when it comes to tackling climate change, but believes small actions can still make a meaningful difference.
"Often individuals feel completely powerless," he said.
"But we can all do something."