Don't Leave Dog Unattended in Hot Car

There are so many times during hot weather when I see dogs left alone in cars while their owners go shopping. This is very upsetting to me. I don't understand the need for people to take their dogs with them while they shop.

The interior of a car gets very hot, this can cause major health problems and even death to a dog. So please, do not leave your dog in a car for any amount of time. It still gets hot even with the windows open. I have a family member who did this, and their dog had seizures which eventually led to the dog's death.

I place the following warning under the windshield wipers of the cars/trucks when I see a dog left inside of a car. I keep copies in my car. I can only hope this will educate the owner so it won't happen again.

We understand you meant to be kind by taking your dog with you today, but you can be risking your pet's' life.

On a hot day, the inside of a car heats up very quickly. On an average 85-degree F day, for example, the temperature inside your car - with the window partially opened, will reach 102 degrees F in 10 minutes. In 30 minutes, it will go up to 120 degrees F. On hotter days, it will go higher.

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A dogs' normal body temperature is 101.5 to 102.2 degrees F. A dog can only withstand hot temperatures for only a very short time before suffering irreparable brain damage or even death. The closed car interferes with your dog's normal cooling process, that is, evaporation through panting.

If your dog is overcome by heat exhaustion, you should give immediate first aid by immersing him/her in cold water until the body temperature is lowered.

Leaving a dog unattended in a car during hot weather is deemed cruel. In some states, cruelty to animals is a violation of the law.

Please, if you love and care about your dog, do not leave him/her in the car for any period of time when the weather is hot.

By it's.only.me from NE PA / USA