Spring is finally here and Summer is just around the corner, and with the onset of warm weather across the region Spokane County Regional Animal Protection Service reminds us to keep our pets safe in the heat.

"Every summer, we respond to calls of animals being left in cars," says Nancy Hill, Director of SCRAPS. "Inside a car, the temperature will rapidly increase and can overwhelm a pet in a very short time period - sometimes with fatal consequences."

If you typically bring your dog or other pets along for the car ride consider leaving them home when temperatures rise. Dogs aren't able to sweat to cool themselves down so it doesn't take much for them to overheat. Cracking a window while you run into the store isn't enough to keep them healthy.

"The temperature outside doesn't have to be in the 90's or more for a problem to exist," says Hill, "On a 78 degree day, temperatures in a car parked in the shade can exceed 90 degrees, and hit a scorching 160 degree if parked in the sun."

May is Foster Parent Appreciation Month, a special time to recognize a group of people who sacrifice so much for children.

The city of Spokane and some businesses are honoring those who have offered their hearts, home, and time over the past year.

Tomato Street kicked off the celebration by offering free meals to foster kids. The Davenport Hotel is giving a special rate to foster families a weekend in May for Foster Parent Appreciation Month. Arby's is giving foster families a 1/2 off coupon for the entire family to go to dinner at a Spokane Arby's.

To see other events to celebrate what foster parents do for children everyday, check out the Foster Parent Association Facebook Page.

Did you know foster parents:

• may be asked to take a child or children at any hour of the day or night, with little notice or information?

Gonzaga University's Global Scholar in Residence, Venerable Geshe Thupten Phelgye, gave the university a Peace Pole in a ceremony this afternoon behind College Hall.

Geshe Phelgye used his own resources to have the 8-foot-high, red cedar, Peace Pole built. The phrase “May Peace Prevail on Earth” is inscribed on each of the four sides in four languages; English, Tibetan, Hebrew and Arabic.

“I would like to offer a Peace Pole to Gonzaga University for its institutional birthday celebrating the 125th anniversary of living out the Jesuit educational mission of the service of faith in the promotion of peace and social justice,” Geshe Phelgye said. “This is also an expression of my deep love and appreciation to the leadership of the university for inviting me as the the first Global Scholar in Residence.”