I am always amazed every spring and summer to open the newspaper and read of yet another child being left in a hot car. It is very sad to think that we have not educated all parents and caretakers out there about just how dangerous it is to leave your child unattended, let alone in a hot vehicle. With that being said, we often see pets left in a car, staring out the window and panting. This is more than frustrating. I am all about socializing our pets and making them part of the family, but this is not how we should be treating our pets. It is well known that a hot car gets to dangerous temperatures inside in a very short amount of time. Imagine also wearing a fur coat inside of that vehicle. It does not take very long at all for a pet to overheat on even a mildly warm day. In a study performed by the Louisiana Office of Public Health, found that the temperatures in a dark sedan as well as a light gray minivan parked on a hot, but partly cloudy day, exceeded 125oF within 20 minutes. This study also found that cracking the windows had very little effect on the temperature rise inside the vehicle. A pet can develop hyperthermia in as little as 15 minutes!
In many states it is not a crime to leave a pet unattended, but all 50 states do have laws in effect preventing animal abuse and or neglect. If you see a pet left unattended in a car that appears to be panting and overheating, please take down the car’s make, model, and license plate number and alert the local authorities. It is quite likely that the pet owner really does love his or her pet (or they probably would not be taking it places with them) and will be happy that someone was kind enough to get their pet the help it needed. If they don’t feel that way, then shame on them. You will at least leave knowing that you put the needs of a helpless animal above the pride of the neglectful owner. Some states do allow a forcible entry into the vehicle to protect an animal believed to be in danger but this usually only excludes a police officer or animal control officer legally from doing so. For a list of states and their statues as to who may break into a vehicle to save a pet with immunity, please visit: https://www.animallaw.info/topic/table-state-laws-protect-animals-left-parked-vehicles
For all the pet lovers who travel with their pet, please plan ahead. Know which hotels and public areas are pet friendly and if you cannot have a preplanned arrangement when you get to the other end, simply leave the pet at home. True love means looking out for your pet’s best interest and not just taking him or her for a joy ride which could end in disastrous consequences.