GENEVA, July 31 (Xinhua) -- Police in Zurich said Tuesday they have launched a "hot dog campaign" to encourage canine owners to protect their pets' paws from the scorching asphalt of summer amid record temperatures.

The recommendations by the Zurich City Police for keeping dogs paws cool are spelled out on the force's Facebook page and leaflets are being distributed.

"When a dog walks on hot asphalt, it can burn its feet -- just like a human walking barefoot," Zurich Police Spokesman Michael Walker told Swiss public radio, SRF.

He said that an air temperature of 30 degrees Celsius can feel like 50-55 degrees.

As in much of Europe, Switzerland has witnessed record temperatures during a prolonged heatwave over July, while rainfall has been sporadic.

In their "Hot Dog Campaign," police officers from Zurich's canine unit are advising dog owners and explaining how hot weather, and overheated pavements, can be especially painful for animals.

To check if the ground is too hot, police suggest placing the back of a hand on the asphalt and holding it there for five seconds.

If it's too hot for the hand, then it's too hot for a paw.

Small dogs should then be carried, and larger ones should wear special protective booties, they say, Swissinfo, the website of the national broadcaster reported.

Such shoes are also worn by police dogs investigating break-ins, where there might be broken glass or other sharp hazards on the ground.

The shoes can also protect car seats when a sniffer dog has to inspect a vehicle.

Police are also reminding pet owners about the importance of providing enough drinking water and the dangers of leaving an animal in a vehicle on a hot day.