Snickers showed little modesty in front of his lady friends Monday as he stepped off the grooming table naked as a mutt can be. Before his shave, the handsome fellow was one hot dog, but now he had a little spring back in his step.

Monday's heat had dogs across the city lining up at their local groomers, hoping to shed some fur and beat the dog days of summer.

While temperatures failed to hit 100 degrees for what would have been the fifth straight day, the clippers still buzzed away at businesses like Dale's All Breed Grooming.

There, dogs named Missy, Muffy and Yogi waited their turn at the hair parlor for hounds, where one cut fits all and shampoos are part of the deal.

"They just seem a lot more spry," said Dale Young, while applying the clippers to Yogi, his newest customer. "They're shaking when they get on the table, but when they're done they run around like crazy."

Crazy is a good way to describe the sweltering heat that has settled over the region. While Monday's high of 93 degrees fell a few points shy of Sunday's 103, highs today are expected to rebound, pushing 100 degrees once again.

It's reminiscent of last July when local temperatures exceeded 100 degrees for three straight days. The mercury hit 105 on July 12 of that year, tying the all-time high set in 1969.

But where last July saw 1.67 inches of rain, this July has watched the rain clouds drift away. Only 0.05 inches has fallen in the last 22 days.

That's enough to drive a good dog mad. But all things remained civil at Dale's grooming.

Bess, who had come for a clip, sat behind the dryer while Muffy looked miffed with her new hair-do. The fur flew in an explosion that resembled a down pillow bursting in a pillow fight.

Shauna Stallings, a certified veterinary technician at the Animal Center, cautioned that not all animals need to be shaved.

Stallings said some dog breeds actually use their fur to keep cool. Others may be susceptible to sunburns once their fur is gone. That also goes for cats.

"Many breeds will regulate their heat by shedding their fur," Stallings said.

Stallings said pet owners should consult their vets before having animals shaved. She also noted that animals can overheat without proper water and shade.

While the vet clinic hasn't treated any animals for heat-related injuries yet, they have treated several pets for snake bites.

"There's a lot more rattlesnakes out on the rocks in this heat," Stallings said. "We've had three snakebite patients already this year."

Reporter Martin Kidston can be reached at 447-4086, or mkidston@helenair.com.