Most people have heard that you should not leave a pet alone in the car in the summer.  But what if you just have to run into the store?  A few minutes don’t really matter, does it?  Think again.  Remember the following when the temptation strikes:

  • On a 78 degree day, temperatures in a car parked in the shade can reach over 90 degrees in minutes.  In direct sun, temperatures could easily exceed 160 degrees!
  • Cracking the window does not provide adequate protection, and rolling the window down further increases the odds of your pet jumping out the window or being bothered by passersby.
  • Even leaving the air conditioning running can be dangerous.  Stories of untimely malfunctions of the cooling system are not uncommon.
  • Animals cannot sweat to cool themselves like humans can.  Just a few minutes of being overheated can be enough to cause irreversible organ damage or death.

If you see an animal or child sitting alone in a car on a hot day with no adult near, call 9-1-1. It could save their lives. As always, please feel free to call us with questions.