'Always get the dog’s name!'
What is Journalism Rule #1, you ask?
“Always get the dog’s name” is near the top of the list.
I violated the prime dog directive (LOL) during a rushed person-on-the-street interview (actually a person-in-the-light-rail-station interview) last week for the heat wave story I did for KUOW and NPR.
Mea culpa.
But!
I was able to track down Julia Kitch of Bothell later and learn that her 16-month-old golden retriever, Arlo, will go to work with her this week so he doesn’t overheat in their home in Bothell that has no air-conditioning.
Arlo also got new booties to protect his paws from hot asphalt.
Meet Arlo. Good boi!
Since the June 2021 heat wave killed an estimated 400 people in Washington and our ongoing, prolonged heat wave has potential to cause a lot of human suffering, my reporting focused mostly on what’s being done to lower the human toll of extreme heat here.
So far, that toll seems light in the Seattle area, with no deaths and 42 heat-related emergency room visits in King County in the heat wave’s first three days, according to Public Health — Seattle & King County.
During the worst day of the June 2021 heat wave, emergency rooms in King County treated 275 heat victims.
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee said Tuesday that prepping for extreme heat is only half the battle.
“We're doing 100 things to respond in the short term, but unless we attack climate change at its source, there are not enough ice cubes or air conditioners on the planet to protect us,” Inslee said.
But even in a serious story on the most serious, civilization-shaking of topics, I couldn’t resist finishing with a four-legged character also facing new challenges as our climate heads into new territory.
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John Ryan
Environment Reporter
John Ryan joined KUOW as its first full-time investigative reporter in 2009 and became its environment reporter in 2018. He focuses on climate change, energy, and the ecosystems of the Puget Sound region.
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