Editor:

We hear so many people warning about leaving dogs in a car during hot weather, but there's another danger that many people ignore. When the air temperature is 100 degrees, the surface temperature of asphalt in a street or parking lot can be over 150 degre es. This can give a dog (or cat or person) second degree burns on the feet in as little as 10 minutes of walking!

Please, don't walk your dogs in the middle of the day. Wait until near sundown or get up early in the morning. Remember, you may be wearing shoes to protect your feet, but your dog doesn't have any.

And if you leave your dog outside during the day (and this really shouldn't be allowed here), at least give him or her shade and water for the ENTIRE day.

Mary Beth Vender-Fay
Library sciences graduate student