Don’t Leave Pets in Cars During Hot Months

To the Editor:
The “dog days” of summer can be dangerous for dogs, especially those left inside hot cars. Every year, many dogs and cats die after being locked in cars. Sadly, these tragic deaths are preventable.
Have you ever noticed how hot it can get inside a car on a summer day, far hotter than it is outside? That’s because a car acts like a greenhouse, trapping in the sun’s heat. A study by the Animal Protection Institute showed that even moderately warm temperatures outside can quickly lead to deadly temperatures inside a closed car.
Because many states allow only assistance dogs to be brought into stores or malls, some people take their dogs along on errands but then leave them in the car. This can be deadly. I have dogs that love to ride in the car, but during the summer months I leave them at home where they are safe and comfortable in the air-conditioned house.
On a summer’s day of only 85 degrees, for example, even keeping the windows slightly open won’t stop the inside temperature from climbing to 102 degrees in 10 minutes. Dogs and cats have higher body temperatures than people to begin with, never mind the fur; a dog or cat whose body temperature rises to 107-108 degrees will, within a very short time, suffer irreparable brain damage, or even death, if left in a hot car even for only a few minutes.
Never leave your pet unattended in a hot car. If you see a pet in a hot car in distress, please call your local police or animal control officer immediately and go into the store and ask the manager to page the person. If you act quickly, you could save the life of a pet in distress.
In addition, pets should not be left outside in the summer months without proper protection, such as a tarp over a kennel. Even with protection, outdoor dogs can be in danger and exposed to overheating. When the temperatures reach over 85 degrees, the best thing is to keep pets indoors with the air conditioning on.
Two years ago, a dog in Cape May County died of overheating after being kept outdoors. It is tragic that we hear of deaths every day for pets during these hot months. Please use common sense and keep your dog safe and cool this summer.
Ed. Note: The writer owns Shore Animal Control Services.