This news item expired on Tuesday, September 1, 2015 so the information below could be outdated or incorrect.
This summer is expected to be one of the hottest on record, so it is important you take care of yourself and your four-legged friend. Dogs are particularly susceptible to hot weather, and one of the worst mistakes a pet owner can make is leaving their dog in a hot car.
On an 80-degree day, the temperature inside of a parked car can quickly soar to over 100 degrees, and on a 90-degree day the temperature can reach over 150 degrees. It is important to note: leaving the windows slightly rolled down hardly alleviates the temperature inside the vehicle. In these temperatures, a dog can quickly suffer brain damage or even die in as few as 15 minutes.
If you encounter a dog trapped in a hot car, PETA recommends you:
· Take down the car’s license plate number, color, make, etc.
· Have the owner paged in the nearest buildings.
· Call local humane authorities or police.
· Have someone keep an eye on the dog.
· Don’t leave the scene until the situation has been resolved.
If the dog appears to be in imminent danger, find witnesses who will back your assessment and take steps to remove the dog from the car. If the dog is suffering from heatstroke symptoms (rapid breathing, vomiting, excessive thirst, etc.), get him or her out of the heat and to a veterinarian as soon as possible.
For more information visit http://peta.org.