NATCHEZ — Foster is a beautiful black lab mix.

It’s hard to believe that approximately two weeks ago, he nearly died of heat stroke.

The dog was discovered by Karren Ewing, Adams County Sheriff’s Office Victims Assistance Coordinator. Ewing, who renamed the dog Foster, said a neighbor called the sheriff’s office.

When she arrived at the address off Morgantown Road, she said she saw Foster tied to a grounded steel pipe with a rope around his neck.

“The dog had no food, no shelter, no water, nothing,” Ewing said.

The rope had cut into Foster’s neck. Foster had also dug a hole in the ground, trying to get into a cooler area because there was no shade.

Ewing realized Foster was showing symptoms of a heat stroke.

With temperatures consistently reaching the high 90s and with heat indexes into the 100s — and forecasts calling for that to continue — residents should take extra care in protecting their pets.

Dr. Buck Brumfield from Riverside Veterinary Care Center in Natchez, said symptoms of heat stroke can include heavy panting, increased body temperature and drooling, production of small amounts of urine, reddening of gums, changes in mental status, muscle tremors, uncoordinated movements and seizures.

The United States Humane Society’s website said other symptoms include glazed eyes, rapid heartbeat, difficulty breathing, excessive thirst, lethargy, fever, vomiting, a deep red or purple tongue and unconciousness.

Foster was lucky Ewing responded to the call when she did.

Ewing put Foster in a kiddie pool she found, slowly applying tap water to his paws and head so he would cool down slowly.

“He never tried to get out of the pool,” Ewing said. “He didn’t have the energy.”

The water method was one Brumfield recommended. He said to use room temperature water to slowly cool down the dog.

Another method is to place ice packs in between a dog’s legs near their femoral arteries.

However, Brumfield said owners shouldn’t try to cool dogs down too quickly or with cold water and the animal should be taken to a veterinarian, even if they are no longer showing symptoms.

The Humane Society of the United States’ website has similar recommendations, as well as giving the dog small amounts of water and allowing them to lick ice cubes.

Brumfield warned certain types of dogs with short faces, like pugs or boxers, can be especially susceptible. The Humane Society said they have a harder time breathing in heat.

“Those are the dogs that are really affected,” Brumfield said.

For those who are worried about their dogs, or have dogs that spend large amounts of time outside, Brumfield and the Humane Society recommend plenty of shade and water.

Brumfield said working dogs can also push themselves, so it’s important to keep an eye on them. Indoor pets, used to air-conditioning, should also be watched.

“Sometimes it doesn’t take long at all for them to have heat stroke,” Brumfield said.

The Humane Society suggested owners should watch the humidity and not to rely on a fan. Other recommendations included not leaving pets in a parked car.

In the case of Foster, the symptoms were caught in time. After 10 days at the vet, Foster was taken to the Natchez-Adams County Humane Society.

Kathy Fitch, the Humane Society president, said Foster had made a recovery.

Because charges are still pending against Foster’s owners, he cannot be adopted. However, Fitch said he could be fostered out.

“We would like to get a foster family for him,” Fitch said. “That would be great.”

The Humane Society can be reached at 601-442-4001.