September may bring the promise that summer is slowly coming to an end, but in Karachi, the heat can still be relentless. The scorching temperatures, humidity, and hot roads make life uncomfortable for all of us—but imagine facing this heat without a roof over your head, without clean drinking water, and without anyone to care for you. This is the reality faced every day by countless stray dogs, cats, birds, and other animals across our city.

As we seek shade, turn on our fans and air conditioners, drink cold water, and retreat indoors, thousands of animals remain exposed to the harsh conditions. They cannot open a refrigerator for a drink, find an air-conditioned room, or tell us when they are suffering. They depend on human compassion. For those of us who share our homes with pets, September is a time to be particularly attentive. Make sure your dogs and cats have constant access to fresh, clean water and a cool, well-ventilated place to rest. Avoid taking dogs out during the hottest hours of the day, as scorching pavements can burn their sensitive paw pads. Walks are best scheduled during the cooler hours of the morning or evening.

But our responsibility should not end with our own pets.

Look outside your home, office, shop, or apartment building. There may be a thirsty cat searching for water or a tired dog desperately looking for a shaded place to lie down. A simple bowl of fresh water can mean the difference between suffering and relief. Even a small, safe shaded area can give an exhausted animal somewhere to escape the heat. Our feathered friends need help too. Placing shallow bowls of clean water in secure locations can provide birds with essential relief during hot days. Remember to refresh the water regularly and keep the containers clean.

We often say that animals need food, shelter, and love. But sometimes, they simply need someone to notice that they are suffering. This September, let us look beyond our own comfort. Let us remember the voiceless, the abandoned, the homeless, and those who have no one to protect them.

Be their shade. Be their water. Be their voice.

Because in the scorching heat of Karachi, a small act of kindness may mean everything to an animal fighting simply to survive.

Hena’s Blog For Paws © 2019 by Hena Osman is licensed under CC BY 4.0