I Shouldn't Even HAVE To Say This!

I don't know why EVERY year, people have to be told this and EVERY year, pets still die unnecessary deaths because their owners left them in a car, on a warm (not necessarily swelteringly hot) day for a "few minutes."


The past few days it's been hot and humid. Generally, unless you are taking the pet somewhere (the vet, groomer, dog park), you should leave them at home. Make sure the air conditioner is running and they are getting adequate air flow.


Note: a pet with his head hanging out the window makes me cringe for several reasons: ear/eye irritation (and possible eye trauma) is UNAVOIDABLE and some will be tempted to jump out at a stop or parked position. I've seen that scenario a few times (with major trauma involved) when working at an emergency clinic.


AND when you take them someplace, make sure they are properly restrained. I have seen a dog that was the victim of a rollover accident because she was loose in the back seat. She was a Golden Retriever. They DO make crates or even harness/seat belt combos for dogs of ALL sizes. She had numerous pieces of window glass embedded in her face. It could've been much worse.

The AVMA has a great page on this including this table which shows the air temperature outside versus inside your vehicle. In just a few minutes the temperature can rise 19 degrees or more (even with a "cracked" window!). Don't do it!!! And if I see a dog in a car on a warm day, I WILL (and have) called the police. 

Estimated Vehicle Interior Air Temperature v. Elapsed Time

Elapsed time	Outside Air Temperature (F)
	70	75	80	85	90	95
0 minutes	70	75	80	85	90	95
10 minutes	89	94	99	104	109	114
20 minutes	99	104	109	114	119	124
30 minutes	104	109	114	119	124	129
40 minutes	108	113	118	123	128	133
50 minutes	111	116	121	126	131	136
60 minutes	113	118	123	128	133	138
> 1 hour	115	120	125	130	135	140

Courtesy Jan Null, CCM; Department of Geosciences, San Francisco State University