Pug perishes in heat, owner sends warning

OVERLAND PARK, Kansas - Pet owners often hear the warnings to protect their animals from the heat. But some may not realize just how dangerous it is right now for certain breeds of dogs.

Debbie Leonard is mourning the death of her beloved pug named Petunia.

Petunia was a family pet and it was her sons who picked the breed.

Friday was hot and humid, so Leonard kept Petunia and her two other pugs inside all day.

When the sun was going down, and the backyard was completely shaded, she let them out.

When she called them in an hour later, Petunia didn't come in.

The family searched with flashlights and found her dead of heat stroke.

Their vet told Leonard that because pugs have such small noses, they have trouble breathing in the heat, and especially in the humidity.

Lisa Farrell of Midwest Pug Rescue says pugs have such small nostril slits that it's harder for them to bring in air.

Their entire respiratory system is condensed, since they were bred to be inside lap dogs.

Bulldogs have similar problems in this weather.

Leonard wants to warn other pet owners that even when you think you're doing all the right things... some dogs just aren't built to handle more than a few minutes of this extreme heat.