This week’s temperatures are expected to be extremely high.  During extreme summer weather, it is important to stay hydrated, cool and inside as much as possible.  This goes for both people and pets.

The City of Evansville Animal Control Office is reminding all pet owners that rising temperatures and high humidity are a double blow for not only people, but their pets too.  If you’re hot, your pet is hot too.

Below are some helpful tips to help keep your pet safe during extreme weather.

1. Never leave your animals alone in a parked vehicle. Temperatures in cars can increase rapidly and become lethal.
   • Temperatures inside a vehicle rise quickly to dangerous levels, even with the windows cracked or open 1 to 2 inches. Your pet could succumb to heatstroke in a matter of minutes. If it’s 90 °F outside, the temperature inside a car can reach 128 °F in 40 minutes (the same amount of time as an average shopping trip).
2. Keep your pets indoors when temperatures are extreme and, in the shade, when they are outdoors.
   • As the sun changes, be aware of what shade is still available.
3. Walk your pets early in the morning or later in the evening to avoid the hottest part of the day.
   • If you are walking your pets, try to keep them in the grass or dirt. Hot pavement is just as sensitive for pets’ paws as it is for our bare feet. The pads on their feet can burn and cause them to overheat more quickly. Before walking, press your hand on the pavement. If you can’t hold it there for five seconds, it’s too hot for your pets! After the walk, check your pet’s paws for pain or redness and use cold water to ease the burn.
4. Give pets plenty of water to avoid dehydration. When you walk your pet or take your pet outside, carry water with you.
   • Always try to have fresh, cool drinking water available for your pets, even if that means having multiple water bowls.
5. Animals with short noses, such as Bulldogs, Pugs, Boston Terriers and Persian cats, are especially vulnerable in the heat.  Dogs and cats cool themselves by breathing through their mouths, but those with flat faces cannot cool as quickly and need extra attention.
6. If your pet is panting excessively, drooling, struggling to walk, is lethargic, or has bloody diarrhea or vomiting, know that these are potentially signs of overheating.
7. Windows in the home that are open should have screens. Pets can fall out of open, unsecured windows.
8. Be careful with dogs on asphalt in the heat. Not only are their paws sensitive but because their bodies are closer to the asphalt, they can overheat more easily.
9. As always, if you think your pet is in distress due to the heat, call your veterinarian as soon as possible.
10. If you are hot, your pet is too!

If assistance is needed, don’t hesitate to contact Animal Control at (812-435-6015)

 

Vanderburgh County Commissioners Announce  Second Amendment to the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Coronavirus Local Recovery Fund Utilization Grants

EVANSVILLE, IN. (June 14, 2022) – The Vanderburgh County Commissioners announce the Second Amendment to the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Coronavirus Local Recovery Fund Utilization Plan for over $19.3-million-dollars in funding to include local non-profit and cultural organizations, security, and mental health. 

The projects include: 

1. Aid to Impacted industries: Aid to Tourism, Travel, or Hospitality – $1,000,000 

The County will allocate and spend One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00) for assistance to nonprofits impacted industries such as tourism, travel, and hospitality. Nonprofits and cultural institutions are significant drivers of Vanderburgh County’s tourism, travel, and hospitality industry. This funding will provide additional relief programming, including direct grants, for organizations whose missions focus on arts, culture, and educational initiatives benefiting Vanderburgh County residents. 

2. SWIRCA & More – $500,000 

The County will allocate and spend Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00) to provide additional relief to SWIRCA & More. The mission of SWIRCA & More is “enhancing opportunities for independent living and a better quality of life for those who are aging, people living with disabilities, and caregivers in Southwestern Indiana,” which meets the objectives of interim final rules for the use of the Fiscal Recovery Funds. SWIRCA & More is designated by the Indiana Division of Aging as a focal point responsible for planning and coordinating a system of services for Older Hoosiers. It strives to develop a comprehensive array of services to help prevent inappropriate institutionalization and encourage self-sufficiency among adults 60 and over as well as disabled youths and adults. 

3. Easterseals Southwestern Indiana- $500,000 

The County will allocate and spend Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00) to provide additional relief to Easterseals Southwestern Indiana. Easterseals Southwestern Indiana is “working to make profound, positive differences in the lives of local people with disabilities every day, and to change the way our community defines and views disability.” Easterseals provides 305 ADMINISTRATION BLDG. • N.W. M. L. KING JR. BLVD. • CIVIC CENTER COMPLEX • EVANSVILLE IN 47708 PHONE: 812-435-5241 FAX: 812-435-5963 

services to help children and adults with disabilities and/or special needs as well as support to their families, which meets the objectives of interim final rules for the use of the Fiscal Recovery Funds. 

4. Evansville Crisis Care Center – $500,000 

The County will allocate and spend Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00) to provide additional relief to the Evansville Crisis Care Center (CCC). The Crisis Care Center will offer treatment to those with mental health and substance abuse disorders who are in a crisis and serve as a jail and emergency service diversion program, intercepting individuals who would likely be sent to the ER or jail. CCC will stabilize and start a plan to get the person towards long-term treatment and support through local resources, serving as the first step toward long-term treatment. This program meets the objectives of interim final rules for the use of the Fiscal Recovery Funds. 

5. NFP/E-REP Grants – $1,000,000 

The County will allocate and spend One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00) to provide funding to Not For Profits Organization through Evansville Regional Economic Partners (E-REP). E-REP will administer the funds for community development, grant administration, financial management, and grant close-out services for the Vanderburgh County, IN American Rescue Plan Act Funds. E-REP will be responsible for the application administration of the grant, financial management, and grant close-out procedures with final reporting provided to Vanderburgh County to ensure administration and close out of all funds. This program meets the objectives of interim final rules for the use of the Fiscal Recovery Funds. 

6. Jail Mental Health Wing – $1,000,000 

The County will allocate and spend One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00) on a County Jail Mental Health Wing. The Wing will provide mental health treatment, substance misuse treatment, other behavioral health services, and services or outreach to promote access to physical or behavioral health, primary care, and preventative medicine as explicitly allowed under the Interim Final Rule. This additional facility has been precipitated by the increased need for services caused by the pandemic as substance misuse, mental health services, and crime have increased. 

7. Coroner’s Office – $3,000,000 

The County will allocate and spend Three Million Dollars ($3,000,000.00) to the Vanderburgh County Coroner’s Office. The Vanderburgh County Coroner’s Office had the most deaths investigated last year (2021) ever. The Coroner’s Office is staffed twenty-four hours per day, seven days per week, three hundred sixty-five days per year. The total number of deaths reported in 2021 was 2,223, the highest ever. Four hundred thirty-six cases were determined to be under the jurisdiction of the Coroner, also the highest ever. The current facility was built to handle approximately half that number of cases. The higher number of cases clearly shows the increased strain placed on the County Morgue and thus the need for a new facility to properly handle the increased volume of reports and investigations. 

8. Paving – $1,000,000 

The County will allocate and spend One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00) to supplement the County Highway Department’s budget for paving. 

9. Jail Cameras – $1,200,000 

The County will allocate and spend One Million Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($1,200,000.00) for cameras for the Vanderburgh County Jail. 

10. Vanderburgh County Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Coliseum – $6,000,000 

The County will allocate and spend Six Million Dollars ($6,000,000.00) for the renovation of the Vanderburgh County Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Coliseum. 

11. Health Department Premium Pay – $58,000 

The County will allocate and spend Fifty-Eight Thousand Dollars ($58,000.00) for premium pay for Vanderburgh County Health Department employees. These funds are for workers who performed essential work during the COVID-19 public health emergency. 

12. Commissioner and Council Office Upgrades – $600,000 

The County will allocate and spend Six Hundred Thousand Dollars ($600,000.00) for upgrades and/or renovation of the County Commissioner and County Council Offices in the Civic Center Complex. 

13. Hearing Chambers – $1,800,000 

The County will allocate and spend One Million Eight Hundred Thousand Dollars ($1,800,000.00) for upgrades and/or renovation of the Civic Center Complex for the addition of an additional trial courtroom. 

14. Clerk Renovation – $1,200,000 

The County will allocate and spend One Million Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($1,200,000.00) for upgrades and/or renovation of the Vanderburgh County Clerk’s Office in the Civic Center Complex. 

This Commission has taken the necessary steps to help local non-profit and cultural organizations, community security, and mental health in Vanderburgh County. This project is a direct result of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding Vanderburgh County received.