• By Phyllis B. Smith
• Posted Wednesday, August 5, 2020

Protecting Animals during the “Dog Days” of Summer

The “Dog Days” of mid- to late summer heralds in a period of particularly hot and humid weather throughout North Carolina. A combination of such weather patterns and water chemistry can produce favorable conditions for the rapid development of Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) blooms in lakes and ponds or other slow-moving bodies of water. In recent years, certain types of Cyanobacteria have been linked to the deaths of livestock and dogs that use lakes or ponds as a source of drinking water. Exposure to such water can also make people sick, particularly children, who tend to play in shallow areas. For more information read Cyanobacteria: Protecting Children and Dogs. If you suspect a Cyanobacteria bloom keep animals and people away and report to the N.C. Division of Water Resources by contacting your nearest Regional Office.