Getting hot over pets that are left in cars

There are few things that get me riled up more than seeing a dog left in a parked car on a hot day. Maybe it’s because I know that no trip into any store ever takes “just a minute”. Or maybe it’s because I myself have said many times, “I’ll just wait in the car” only to discover firsthand how quickly the heat rises, even with the windows open.

In the summertime, when the sun is blazing and our cars are boiling hot when we get into them, it’s easy to remember that our cars are not a safe place for our pets to be left alone. In the spring, though, when the weather is not so unbearable, many drivers forget that their cars can still become dangerously hot in just a short amount of time. According to the ASPCA, even on a 70 degree day the temperature in your car can climb another 20 degrees. And in the summer months, your car can reach well over 100 degrees in a matter of minutes.

Pet deaths from being left in cars on warm days are 100% preventable. If you see a dog shut in a hot car, look for signs that it may be in distress. Dogs that are suffering from hyperthermia may be drooling excessively, panting, wobbly, or unconscious. If you see a dog shut in a hot car, keep an eye on them to make sure they are OK. Remember that sometimes people leave their cars running and the air conditioning on for their pets while they run into a store, so be sure to look at the full picture before trying to rescue a dog that is not in danger. If you are concerned about a dog’s welfare, try to track down the owner. If you are at a business, have the owner paged and wait by the car until they arrive.

If you have reason to believe a dog is in serious distress and at risk of harm or death, call the police. In both Maine and New Hampshire, there are laws against leaving pets unattended in vehicles in conditions that may cause them suffering or death. If an animal is in distress, the police or animal control officer will use whatever force necessary to remove that animal from the car. Before you start dialing 911 at the first pet you see locked in a parked car, though, remember that the key word is “distress.” If a pet is not in immediate danger, do not call the police and expect them to break the car window.

As pet lovers, it’s important that we educate fellow pet owners about the dangers of leaving our pets in cars. Encourage your friends and family to leave Fido at home on hot days if they’re going somewhere that isn’t pet-friendly. And be sure to keep a lookout when walking through parking lots for animals in cars that may be in distress. You just might save a life!

Alaina Goodnough is the Promotions Coordinator at Cocheco Valley Humane Society in Dover, NH. She lives in Sanford, ME with three parrots, two cats, and two dachshunds. She can be reached at CVHS at devassist@cvhsonline.org