Townsville tradies warning to dog owners as he records almost boiling road surface temperatures

Dog owners are being warned of the dangers the North Queensland heat can have on their pet’s wellbeing.

A Townsville tradie is warning dog owners of the dangers the North Queensland heat can have on their pets’ paws after recording a bitumen temperature of 90 degrees over the past few days.

Dog owner VJ Sumiller stopped to take surface road temperature readings while out in the field working at his mowing business in Townsville.

At 3pm on Friday, the road in an Aitkenvale car park was recorded at 90.7 degrees and at 6.30pm the road atop Castle Hill was 45 degrees.

Mr Sumiller knows all about the dangers of hot bitumen when his 13-year-old staffy’s paws were burnt while taking him for a walk a couple of years ago.

“I wanted to share the readings so people see what it’s like outside, my fingers get toasted just touching any tools,” he said.

“As much as it’s just surface temperature, it can still burn quickly even for just a second or two.”

Mr Sumiller said the temperature readings was also a reminder for pet owners to be cautious about overheating.

“I found a lost dog out bush the other month who died from the heat,” he said.

“Basically (it is) heat awareness, it’s easy to just go back inside in the airconditioning but forget the dogs suffer without be able to call out for help.”

Palms Vets Hermit Park veterinarian Samantha Beeby said pet owners needed to be vigilant during the summer.

“With this heatwave we are having at the moment, the roads are not cooling down overnight so people have to be really careful as well as in the morning and evening,” she said.

“We have seen a couple of heat stroke related cases so with this extreme weather and humidity.

“People should be reducing activity and providing plenty of water for their pets and have access to airconditioning.”

Townsville Airport recorded a top of 37.1 degrees on Sunday, with a ‘feels like’ temperature of 40.6 degrees mixed with the high humidity at 2pm.

Valentine’s Day was a scorcher, with the mercury reaching 38.9 degrees at 11am and high temps and humidity sticking around well into the evening.

Townsville can expect a top of 34 degrees today and tomorrow.

Originally published as Townsville tradies warning to dog owners as he records almost boiling road surface temperatures