As pet parents we love our pets so much that we are often tempted to take them wherever we go, including on our everyday errands. On cool, mildly pleasant days, these car rides with your dog are not likely to be a big deal, especially if your errands are brief, you park in the shade, and you leave the windows open. On the other hand, even following these simple precautions is not a guarantee that your pet will be comfortable. When pet owners start taking their pets out on days when the weather is more extreme, it becomes a dangerous issue. What many pet owners fail to realize is that a car’s internal temperature can rapidly increase to unbearable, even fatal, temperatures in a matter of minutes. According to studies done by Davis Instruments in 2002, on a 73°F day, it took only 20 minutes for the inside of a parked car to reach a deadly 107°F. On a day when the temperature was 86°F, a car parked in the shade reached 109°F within just 10 minutes, whereas one parked in the sun reached 132°F in 5 minutes. Because even milder temperatures can make a car’s insides uncomfortably warm, it is strongly advised that pets and children not be left in a car if the outside temperature is 60°F or above.
When a dog gets too hot, he cools down by panting as well as sweating through his paws. If a dog only has warm air to breathe, he cannot cool off as effectively, and may become unconscious or comatose. Additionally, when your dog’s body temperature rises well above his normal body temperature, he can sustain permanent damage to his nervous and cardiovascular systems—he might also suffer brain damage, or die of heat stroke.
Now, understandably, there are times when you cannot leave your dog at home and he has to go on errands with you. When this happens, make your errands quick and take every precaution to ensure your pet is safe and comfortable.
Use a drive-up window whenever one is available.
If the stores allow it, bring your dog in with you.
When possible, have someone stay in the car with your dog. This enables you to leave windows or doors open more than just a crack, allowing greater airflow.
When you come across a dog that has been left in a car and is overheating:
If you know who the owner is, kindly let them know you believe their pet to be at risk of heat exposures—be sure to say it in a polite and friendly manner since you may not know their full situation.
If the owner is not in sight and the car is in a store parking lot, go and talk to the store manager. Many stores will do their best to help you find the owner. If you know the car’s make, model, color and license plate number, the store may be able to page the owner.
Call the police or animal control. If you suspect the animal is in distress, it is best to contact the authorities as soon as possible since every minute counts when it comes to preventing heat stroke.
Just as we would not sit in a hot car with a fur coat on in the middle of the summer, neither should our pets. Before taking your pet along on errands, stop and think about what your errands entail, what the weather is like, and whether your dog really needs to go with you. The last thing you want to result from a simple errand is an emergency trip to the vet,
