Central AC broke - is this a health hazard to pets?

[Sam Leon]

Got a call today from a tenant about the central AC not cooling - the fan is on but not blowing cold air.

Tenant is in a 2/1 two people with two 50 pound dogs.

Tenant is inherited from my last purchase so still on a 2 page long, overly simplified lease they signed with the last owner. I seem to have more problems with inherited tenants because it's just more difficult to set expectations with existing tenants.

So the AC broke. I was first notified by text today, on a Sunday afternoon at 4pm, no one is available today - not the two HVAC services I have existing relationships with - the earliest I can arrange something would be tomorrow, plus, it's pouring rain outside.

I'll admit, it's hot out in South Florida now, weather.com says 80 degrees, it's 84 degrees inside their home as reflected by their AC thermostat. I told them to open their windows and I'll get someone out ASAP.

By 5:30pm I told them I have secured an appointment tomorrow at 10am but only if it's not pouring. The AC tech told me they can't work when it's pouring out.

By 6:15pm I got another call, saying they needed the AC fixed RIGHT NOW, because it's an "EMERGENCY", due to their dogs are sweating and could be a health hazard. Also, they think without the AC, they can't sleep tonight and hence cannot go to work tomorrow due to being too tired from lack of sleep, plus they have to eat out because they can't cook and risk warming the kitchen any further.  They wanted me to call a 24 hr AC repair service to have it fixed tonight.

I am not a pet owner so I wanted to ask those here who are. Is it true that the lack of AC could be a health hazard to these dogs? If they open their windows it would be 80 degrees - do dogs NEED AC in a dwelling with open windows? They have a fenced in backyard they can let the dogs out but they said it's pouring so it's bad for the dogs too...Is this a real issue or over dramatized?

I am not comfortable calling a 24 hour repair service I don't have any relationship with. Doesn't seem like a true emergency to me. Uncomfortable yes; Inconvenient yes; Emergency?

Their lease will end in July, I have been debating about renewing.  This may decide it for me.