With high humidity and temperatures in the upper 90s, summers in Houston can be brutal and sometimes even dangerous. Fortunately, Precinct 4 offers a few shady spots to keep cool. Children can remain active with less danger of overheating on the covered playgrounds at Pundt, Doss, Collins, and Lindsay/Lyons parks. The new covered playground at Collins Park features updated equipment sure to keep children engaged and active. Those interested in a different form of entertainment can check out the chess tables at Collins and Doss parks.

Animal lovers across Houston showed up in full force last week after the Harris County Animal Shelter received 59 puppies in one hour on July 6. A record-setting 100 animals were adopted over the weekend after volunteers sent out pleas for help using social media. Despite the overwhelming response, volunteers say there are still animals awaiting adoption. Harris County hopes to reduce owner-surrendered pets and improve the adoption rate with a new pet clinic funded by a donation from Houston PetSet.

Communications professionals from around Texas recently recognized the Harris County Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management (HCOHSEM) for its ReadyHarris app. Residents can download the app to experience real-time weather alerts, build a personalized family disaster plan, receive survival tips, preview emergency evacuation routes, and locate local emergency services. Since its release, the ReadyHarris app has been downloaded more than 12,300 times in just a few months. This free app is available at the Apple App Store and Google Play in both English and Spanish.