Police dogs in Zurich are currently wearing shoes to keep their paws from getting burnt on the scorching asphalt, the Swiss city's law enforcement department said Tuesday.
As temperatures are expected to remain above 30 degrees this week, Zurich's police dog handlers are also using their patrols to inform other dog owners that the pavement heats up to at least 50 degrees in the sun during the current weather.
If the pavement feels hot to the human hand after 5 seconds, it is also too hot for canine paws, the police department advised on social media.
Larger dogs should put on shoes, while smaller ones should be carried, the department said.
Zurich's police dogs are used to wearing shoes, a police spokeswoman told dpa. Apart from summer heat, the gear is also sometimes used to protect against broken glass, or to keep paws from scratching car seats during drug searches.