It Is Already Too Hot to Walk Your Dog in the Middle of the Day, says Henderson Animal Protection Services
Henderson Animal Protection Services issued an advisory this week urging pet owners to stop walking dogs during the hottest parts of the day, as temperatures in the Las Vegas Valley climb into the triple digits ahead of summer. The agency warned that extreme heat can turn pavement and enclosed outdoor spaces hazardous within minutes.
The core guidance is straightforward: test the pavement with the back of your hand before you leave the house. If it is too hot for your hand, it is too hot for your dog’s paws.
Pavement temperatures in Las Vegas regularly exceed 150°F when air temperatures hit 100°F, and asphalt in direct sun can reach 160°F at the 100-degree mark. Burns to paw pads can happen in seconds, before a dog shows any visible sign of distress.
Henderson APS recommends walking dogs before 8 a.m. or after sunset, providing constant access to fresh water and shade, and never leaving animals unattended in parked vehicles, even briefly.
The agency also urges owners to watch for signs of heat stress, including heavy panting, drooling, weakness, vomiting, trouble breathing, and collapse.
If your dog shows any of those signs, contact Henderson Animal Protection Services immediately. Do not wait to see if they improve on their own.
Flat-faced breeds including bulldogs, pugs, and shih tzus face heightened risk because their shorter nasal passages make panting less effective, limiting their ability to regulate body temperature.
Senior dogs and dogs that struggled in last year’s heat are also at elevated risk and should have outdoor time reduced further than the general guidance suggests.
Triple-digit temperatures now arrive in Las Vegas as early as May, which means the window of serious heat danger for dogs runs from late spring through early October. Many owners are still on a cooler-weather routine and have not yet adjusted their walk times or routes.
The advisory comes as Las Vegas shelters are also bracing for a surge in animals surrendered or found loose during the summer months. The Animal Foundation, which took in nearly 29,000 animals in 2025, has warned that summer consistently pushes intake numbers higher. A dog that escapes through an open door during a busy summer afternoon faces serious danger within minutes on unshaded pavement.
Henderson Animal Protection Services can be reached directly through the City of Henderson’s website. Nevada law also gives bystanders specific rights if they spot a dog locked in a hot car, and we have a full breakdown of what you are legally allowed to do.