Dog taken on desert hike dies

[Catherine]

I think it was a case of people not understanding the conditions. People do not take temperature extremes seriously. If your body (or a dog's body) goes above or below normal by just a small amount it starts to shut down. I have had heat stroke a couple of times and I didn't see it coming. I never go anywhere without water in the hot weather and I try to carry a salty snack.

It is too bad that they did not take the warning signs seriously. I have been to Joshua Tree National Park and even in the winter it can be warm during the day. I can't imagine going for a walk like that in the summer.